The Power Of Unity: Alexandra Bus Boycott's Success Story

The 1957 Alexandra Bus Boycott was a protest against the Public Utility Transport Corporation (PUTCO) by the people of Alexandra in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is considered one of the few successful political campaigns of the Apartheid era. The boycott was sparked by a proposed 25% increase in bus fares, which would have raised the fare by one penny. The boycott lasted from January 1957 to June 1957, with an estimated 70,000 township residents refusing to ride the buses. The protesters demanded that the old four-penny fare be restored. The boycott, known as Azikwelwa (We will not ride in Sepedi), attracted daily attention from the South African press and ultimately forced PUTCO to rescind the fare increase.

The 1957 Alexandra bus boycott is considered one of the few successful Apartheid-era campaigns

The boycott was sparked by a proposed increase in bus fares by PUTCO. On January 7, 1957, PUTCO announced a 25% increase in fares (from 4d to 5d) to address its financial crisis. This prompted the people of Alexandra to launch a boycott of the buses, with commuters refusing to ride and instead walking long distances to and from Johannesburg. The boycott quickly spread to other townships in Johannesburg and Pretoria, with an estimated 70,000 people participating.

The boycott lasted for three months and gained significant attention from the South African press. The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce attempted to settle the matter due to concerns about the economic impact of a large portion of its workforce walking long distances to work. Despite several provisional settlements being discussed, the boycotters remained firm in their demands.

Finally, the Chamber of Commerce agreed to a public subsidy that would return the bus fares to the original price on a long-term basis. This was considered a victory for the people of Alexandra, as the government capitulated and provided the subsidy to PUTCO, meeting the demands of the boycotters.

The 1957 Alexandra bus boycott built on the legacy of previous bus boycotts in South Africa, such as the 1943 and 1944 boycotts in Alexandra, which also successfully resisted fare increases. The success of the 1957 boycott inspired future bus boycotts and other forms of anti-Apartheid resistance. It demonstrated the power of mass mobilization and the effectiveness of economic boycotts in challenging the Apartheid regime.

The boycott was a protest against a 25% fare increase

The Alexandra Bus Boycott was a protest against a 25% increase in bus fares. On 7 January 1957, the Public Utility Transport Corporation (PUTCO) raised its fares from 4d to 5d. This increase was proposed to get the company out of a continuous financial crisis. In response, the people of Alexandra in Johannesburg, South Africa, refused to ride the buses and instead walked 20 miles to and from work. This boycott lasted from January to June 1957, with up to 70,000 people taking part.

The boycott was named Azikwelwa, meaning "We will not ride" in the local language. It was one of the few successful political campaigns of the Apartheid era. The boycott was led by several local groups, including the Standholders Association, the Standholders and Tenants Association, the Vigilants Association, the Tenants Association, the Freedom Charterists (members of the ANC), the Women's League (also members of the ANC), the African Nationalists, and the Movement For a Democracy of Content.

The boycott attracted daily attention from the South African press and caused economic implications, as a large part of the workforce was walking 20 miles a day instead of taking the bus. The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce attempted to settle the matter using various intermediaries, but the boycotters stood firm. They rejected several provisional settlements, including a complicated system that would reimburse bus passengers their extra penny every day.

The boycott was a spontaneous act, with people deciding to refrain from riding the buses on their own initiative. However, the boycott was also influenced by previous bus boycotts in Alexandra, particularly one that took place in 1943 in response to a fare increase from 5 cents to 6 cents. That boycott lasted nine days and successfully pressured the bus company to lower the fare back to 5 cents. The 1957 boycott built on the momentum of these earlier protests and was a significant act of resistance during the Apartheid era.

It lasted from January to June 1957, with up to 70,000 people refusing to ride local buses

The Alexandra Bus Boycott was a protest against the Public Utility Transport Corporation (PUTCO) by the people of Alexandra in Johannesburg, South Africa. It lasted from January to June 1957, with up to 70,000 people refusing to ride local buses. This daily journey to downtown Johannesburg was a 20-mile round trip. The boycott was named Azikwelwa (We will not ride) and it is generally recognised as one of the few successful political campaigns of the Apartheid era.

The boycott was undertaken by the people of Alexandra, who were protesting against a proposed fare increase by PUTCO from 4d to 5d. This increase was due to the South African government's refusal to increase its public subsidy to the company. On 7 January 1957, the people of Alexandra resolved to launch the boycott and formed the Alexandra People's Transport Action Committee (APTAC). APTAC consisted of several local groups, including the Standholders Association, the Standholders and Tenants Association, the Vigilants Association, the Tenants Association, the Freedom Charterists (members of the ANC), the Women's League (also members of the ANC), the African Nationalists, and the Movement For a Democracy of Content.

The boycott attracted daily attention from the South African press and worried the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce, who attempted to settle the matter using various intermediaries. The boycott was a spontaneous act on the part of the people, and it is said that the experience of previous bus boycotts in 1943 and 1944 led people to act instinctively against fare increases. The boycott was a success, with the fares remaining at 4d and the government eventually capitulating and paying the subsidy to PUTCO.

The boycott was named 'Azikwelwa' ('We will not ride')

The boycott was named Azikwelwa (We will not ride) and it lasted from January 1957 to June 1957. The protest was undertaken by the people of Alexandra in Johannesburg, South Africa against the Public Utility Transport Corporation (PUTCO). The boycott was a result of PUTCO's proposal to raise its fares from 4d to 5d. The people of Alexandra Township had already experienced two previous bus boycotts in 1943 and 1944, which were successful in reducing or preventing fare increases.

The 1957 boycott was mobilised by the newly formed Alexandra People's Transport Action Committee (APTAC), which consisted of several local groups, including the African National Congress (ANC) and its Women's League. The boycott attracted daily attention from the South African press and gained support from other areas of Johannesburg and Pretoria. At its height, 70,000 township residents refused to ride the local buses, instead walking up to 20 miles round trip to and from work each day.

The boycott was successful in preventing the fare increase, with the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce ultimately agreeing to a public subsidy that would maintain the old fare on a long-term basis. The 1957 Alexandra bus boycott is recognised as one of the few successful political campaigns of the Apartheid era. It demonstrated the power of collective action and set a precedent for future struggles against the apartheid regime.

The boycott was led by Dan Mokonyane, a professional revolutionary and member of the MDC

The 1957 Alexandra Bus Boycott was a protest against the Public Utility Transport Corporation (PUTCO) by the people of Alexandra in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is recognized as one of the few successful political campaigns during the Apartheid era. The boycott was led by Dan Mokonyane, a professional revolutionary and member of the MDC (Movement for a Democracy of Content). Mokonyane was born in 1930 in Mothlabaneng, South Africa, and later moved to Alexandra Township in Johannesburg. He attended the University of Witwatersrand, where he majored in economics and philosophy. During his time at university, Mokonyane joined the Society of Young Africans (SOYA), a group aligned with the Non-European Unity Movement. However, he later left SOYA to join the MDC.

Mokonyane played a crucial role in the 1957 Alexandra Bus Boycott. When the boycott was announced, in response to PUTCO's attempt to raise fares, Mokonyane joined the boycott committee as Publicity Secretary and later became the Secretary of the Organizing Committee. He was a powerful and effective leader, known for his oratory skills and ability to silence opponents with his arguments. Mokonyane believed in the importance of frequent public meetings during the boycott to report on the committee's deliberations and receive mandates from the people. He also warned against relying on biased media reports.

The boycott lasted from January 1957 to June 1957, with up to 70,000 township residents refusing to ride the local buses. The protesters demanded a return to the old four-penny fare, and the boycott ended successfully when the old fare was restored. Mokonyane's leadership during the Alexandra Bus Boycott left a lasting impact, and he became a hero in the eyes of Alexandra's residents.

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