Solly Sachs
by Emily Lussier
Biography
Solly Sachs, as a white man, worked hard to create a voice for those he felt were not being represented in the anti-apartheid struggle, mainly clothing factory workers who were women or black. This also shows a level of selflessness, because he did not focus his work strictly on his struggles as a Jewish minority, but on those workers who he thought needed a voice. His unions were some of the most active in South Africa during the time, and even after facing arrests for his protests and trial under the Suppression of Communism Act, Sachs continued to fight on behalf of these workers. He sympathized with these young Afrikaner girls who experienced poor working conditions and had no previous representation of their interests, specifically with the GWU. He worked hard on their behalf and succeeded in acquiring funding for the clothing industry in Transvaal though the Industrial Council. Even after leaving South Africa, he continued the fight, which mattered to him whether South Africa was his residence or not.
reported in the law reports today. And...(I’m saying this in brackets now...not for the transcript, but I’m closing my eyes, I’m shutting you out, it’s like a private thing, a reverie that I’m conducting in your presence but not with you), and the...he had a kind of huge respect for the judges in Johannesburg. It was partly he saw the courts as a battleground. He could fight for the workers on the basis of legislation in their favour. If he was arrested by the police he would try and get the best legal support."-Albie Sachs (Solly's Son)in a 2008 interview
References
Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
"Garment Workers Union (GWU)." South African History Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
"Emil Sachs." South Africa History Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
Legal Resources Centere of South Africa. "Albie Sachs Interview." Historical Papers. Historical Papers, William Cullen Library, University of Witwatersrand, 2008. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.