page 140 - Long Walk Original Manuscript [LWOM_140.jpg]

the peculiar conditions of the rural areas.

It was the duty of every cell steward and street steward to know every family and person in his area and, more particularly, the background of each person, his standard of education, his work, business or profession, whether he was a member of the organisation and trade union, the number of children, personal problems, ambition, relations with neighbours, recreation and other interests; to keep in close contact with every body in his area and to assist wherever possible. The cell steward collected subscriptions, arranged regular political classes and other meetings in his cell which would be addressed either by a member of the Executive, Woman's League, Youth League or member of the Volunteer Board. The National Executive also decided to retain the Volunteer corps intact. Now they were put on standby duty, ready to be called up in emergency and entrusted with the work of helping the cell stewards to recruit new members, call meetings, legal or otherwise, and to distribute leaflets.

Attempts were made to implement the Plan with varying degrees of success. Once again the most imaginative application of the Plan and the most impressive results were scored by the Eastern Cape where the organisation has always succeeded in taking up local issues and hitting back powerfully in the face of vicious attacks by the enemy. The Volunteer Corps in the area was also the best organised in the country and remained fairly active long after the volunteers in other areas had disappeared. Our success in this area is of vital interest in the light of the allegation that has been repeatedly made by our enemies that Africans can organise no campaigns without the