The address opens with a description of three major landmarks of the year, namely;The first, the Treason Trial, which began on 5 December 1956 where 156 people were arrested in a Union-wide police swoop. The second, was the arrest of more than 200 African men and women of Sekukuniland. The third event of great political significance was the appointment of Dr. Verwoerd as prime Minister of South Africa. The All African Convention is seen as an instrument for fighting herronvolkism and oppression on the basis of the Ten-Point Programme and its policy of Non-Collaboration.