The Congress Alliance was an anti-apartheid political coalition formed in South Africa in the 1950s. Led by the African National Congress, the CA was multi-racial in makeup and committed to the principle of majority rule.
The Charter was the statement of core principles of the Alliance, which included a commitment to multi-racial democratic government and a fundamental restructuring of all aspects of South African Society.[2][1][3] The Alliance was part of the ANC's efforts to promote a multi-racial anti-apartheid movement.[4]
In December 1956 many key members of the Alliance were arrested and charged with treason, including the entire executive committee of the ANC. 105 Africans, 21 Indians, 23 whites (about half of whom were South African Jews),[5]: 60–61 and 7 Coloured members of the Congress Alliance were arrested. Many leaders, including Nelson Mandela, were detained in communal cells in Johannesburg Prison, resulting in "the largest and longest unbanned meeting of the Congress Alliance in years."[6]
These arrests led to the 1956 Treason Trial, which lasted until 1961 but led to the eventual acquittal of all charged.[7]
^Baard, Frances; Schreiner, Barbie. "The congress of the people". South African History Online. Retrieved 15 March 2019. From the book: My Spirit Is Not Banned by Frances Baard and Barbie Schreiner
^Gerhart, Gail M. Black power in South Africa: The evolution of an ideology. University of California Press.
