DR J S MOROKA COLLECTION (DCAS Acc 46)

Abstract

Dr James Sebe Moroka (1892 – 1985), was a medical doctor, as well as a politician.

After completing his schooling, he attended the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, where he qualified as a medical doctor in 1918. He returned to South Africa, and set up a practice in Thaba’Nchu. In 1933 Dr Moroka went to Vienna, Austria for post-graduate studies. He returned to South Africa, after qualifying as a surgeon in 1936.

Dr Moroka’s political career started when he became involved in Black people’s resistance against the Native Trust & Land (draft) Bills of JBM Hertzog. Moroka participated in the first meeting of the All African Convention (AAC) that was held in Bloemfontein in December 1935, and he was elected as treasurer of the AAC in 1936.

JS Moroka’s association with the ANC began in 1942, and in 1943 he became a member of the Atlantic Charter Committee of the ANC. He rose to prominence, and in 1949, supported by the Youth League, was elected president-general of the ANC. Defiance of the Nationalist government’s policies, led to the arrest of 21 leaders (including Moroka) of the ANC under the Suppression of Communism Act, on 30 July 1952. All accused received a suspended sentence.

At the ANC Annual Conference in December 1952, James Moroka was defeated by Albert Luthuli.