Moses Kotane
Date: August 1967.
Source: Transcribed from "Interim Report of the
African National Congress Joint Committee on Reduction of Expenditure", a
PDF document online at
Digital Innovation South
Africa; facsimile of document housed at the Manuscript and Archives
Department of University of Cape Town Libraries.
Publication at MIA: January 2024.
INTERIM REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON REDUCTION OF EXPENDITURE
1. Membership: The members of the Committee are Comrades J. B. Marks, J. Pule, D. Nokwe, J. D. Matlou, W. Marula and M. Kotane.
2. Terms of Reference: The Committee was set up in order to consider radical cuts in the general expenses of the organisation necessitated by the difficult financial situation in which the organisation finds itself today, and in response to the call by the Deputy-President that "in this hour of crisis, all funds must be earmarked for the needs of our fighting men", and that "the rest of us", including the camps, "must be satisfied with half rations until the situation improves."
3. Meeting: Under the Chairmanship of Comrades J. B. Marks, the Committee met on the 19th August, 1967, at 9.00 a.m. All members were present.
4. Procedure: After the Chairman outlined the terms of reference, the Committee unanimously agreed on the principle of reduction of expenditure and to begin with consideration of allowances paid to members, as well as the amounts paid for food, clothing, medicines, hospitals and doctors' fees for our camps.
5. Reduction of Allowances: After a lengthy debate -- in which all the speakers emphasised that the reductions in the allowances were recommended not because they were too much but solely because of the needs of the situation, the financial crisis facing the organisation -- it was decided to recommend the following reduction rates to the National Executive Committee :-
(a) 50% for those receiving 900/- per month.
(b) 40% for those receiving 700/- per month, unsubsidized.
(c) 10% for those receiving 400/- per month, unsubsidized.
(d) 40% for those receiving 140/- a week, partly susbisdized.
(e) 20% for those receiving 140/- a week, unsubsidized.
(f) 10% for those receiving 80/- a week, subsidized.
(g) 10% for those receiving 60/- a week, subsidized.
6. Reduction in Camps Expenditure: The Treasurer-General informed the Committee that he was already cutting down on what he considered unnecessary expenses. It was decided to examine the general expenditure in this connection at the next meeting of the Committee.
The Treasurer-General to submit a report of purchases. Other items to be considered from time to time.
7. Date on which Reductions Come into Effect: The Committee unanimously recommends that if adopted by the National Executive Committee the reduction in allowances shall come into effect as from the 25th September, 1967.
8. Submission to National Executive Committee: The above recommendations are to be submitted to the Meeting of the National Executive Committee on the 27th August, 1967.
Moses Kotane
19th August, 1967
IMPORTANT DECISION
Because of the serious financial difficulties facing the African National Congress of South Africa at present, and in response to the call by the Deputy President that "in this hour of crisis, all funds must be earmarked for our fighting men", the National Executive Committee at its meeting held on the 24th to 25th August, 1967, decided, inter alia, -
++ that all allowances paid to members be drastically reduced; and
++ that the following rates of reductions shall come into effect as from the 25th September, 1967 :-
(a) 50% for those receiving 900/- per month.
(b) 40% for those receiving 700/- per month, unsubsidized.
(c) 10% for those receiving 400/- per month, unsubsidized.
(d) 40% for those receiving 140/- a week, partly susbisdized.
(e) 20% for those receiving 140/- a week, unsubsidized.
(f) 10% for those receiving 80/- a week, subsidized.
(g) 10% for those receiving 60/- a week, subsidized.