The heat rises Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #313)

and semi colonial powers had their backs against the wall and where a few African and Asian States and the Socialist countries were carrying the fight against all forms of oppression and racial prejudice into practically every world body. At home the Nats were under heavy pressure and paying heavily for their antiquated policies. Still in 1957 and hard on the heels of the Alex Bus Boycott, the Congresses launched a boycott of the products of several firms controlled by members of the Nationalist Party or which supported that party and amongst these were the Laageberg Kooperasie and the Rembrandt Tobacco Company. The former was one of the country's largest producers of canned foodstuffs employing thousands of black workers and with branches in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and other centres, while the latter produced various brands of tobaccoes and cigarettes. Both were big concerns and quoted on the stock exchange. The Langeberg immediately negotiated a settlement and met a delegation of the Congresses led by Duma Nokwe, then secretary General of the ANC. The directors argued that the firm was not controlled by members of the Nationalist Party and in support of their argument produced a share register which showed that amongst its shareholders were Afrikaners, English and Jews. While the negotiations were in progress about 500 African and Coloured workers at the Port Elizabeth branch of the firm went ons trike for higher wages and general improvement of their working conditions. In the meantime the Food and Canning Workers Union made several demands to the firm,