The early 1960s saw a fierce onslaught against the mass organisations.

Thousands who had taken part in the Congress of the People campaign and in the wider activities of the Congress Alliance went to jail. Many, in fact most of those we interviewed for this book, were imprisoned at this time. Some went to jail for extremely long spells, 15, 17, 20 years.

But the Freedom Charter was not erased from the minds of oppressed and democratic South Africans. As the following story confirms, it remains part of the lives of all who suffer under apartheid, wherever they are, whether they live in the towns or bantustans.

Christmas Tinto remembers:

Tinto: In 1965, when I came from Robben Island to the Transkei I found my house demolished by Matanzima and Vorster's bulldozers. Anyway. There was an opposition chap to the Transkeian thing, he was an old member of the ANC. Ja. Now when I arrived there he said: “Thanks comrade that you are here. We have got a meeting in another area. Matanzima is going to address those people about the Trust scheme. He is going to tell them to accept the Trust. Now I want you to lead the people in asking questions to Matanzima and his ministers.”

And I said: “Okay. But organise a broken overall and a broken hat.”

He organised it.

There was another comrade who was from Johannesburg. We both wore overalls. We came very early in the morning. In those meetings people are sitting on the ground outside. They call it, that meeting, imbizo, ja, it's a tribal gathering.

Now, I said: “First of all, okay, this sun is going to be hot. Let's sabotage Matanzima and his crew, my comrade. Now we must put the chairs on that side. Matanzima must look to the sun. The people must be on this side .”

He said: “Okay!”