page 145 - Long Walk Original Manuscript [LWOM_145.jpg]

varying defrees strengthened the anti apartheid forces. SACPO which later changed its name to Coloured Peoples Congress (CPC), would ultimately line up with the ANC and SAIC to form together with SACOD the Congress /alliance, whereas the Liberal Party operated on its own.

Though the influence of the Defiance Campaign cannot be completely excluded, SACPO is really the belated offspring of the struggle to defend the Coloured vote and the initiative in its foundation was taken by Dr. R.E. van der Ross, who in 1976 became rector of the University of the Western Cape. He must have discussed the matter with many people. In Johannesburg Dadoo, J.B> Marks and I were amongst those he consulted, expressing the need for an organisation working mainly among the Coloureds and co ordinating its efforts with those of other oppressed groups. We readily pledged our support and were happy when in due course SACPO emerged under his leadership. Unfortunately Dr. van der Ross did not last long enough for his continued participation in the leadership of SACPO would have helped that organisation to be established on a broader base among the Coloured people. Be that as it may, SACPO since then has been ably led by an active and courageous group of fighters who have acquitted themselves well and who are still in the front line. Such men will always be an valuable investment to the liberation movement as a whole ans as long as we advance with them bleak moments will continue to recede. But in gaining a militant approach, SACPO also lost much of its potentially broad base, A setback which was accelerated by the fact that SACPO was founded at a time when the enemy was making full use of its drastic powers of banning activists left and right. In spite of all the problems that subsequently hampered its expansion, the establishment of SACPO was an important historical event. Now on the Coloured