The Commission was appointed by the City Council of Johannesburg, to enquire into the causes and circumstances of the riots which took place in the vicinity of the Dube Hostel in the South-Western Native Townships over the week-end 14th / 15th September, 1957.

The collection contains in part the court proceedings of prominent trials against political activists in South Africa.

The collection contains the minutes of evidence collected by the Commission, as well as the exhibits and judgement.

It includes among others the submissions on behalf of Bishop Ambrose Reeves from the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, who was instrumental in demanding that the Government at the time establish a Commission of Inquiry.

The trial records of what would become known as the Rivonia trial originate from the defense attorneys for the accused.

The accused were charged in Contravention of Sections of Suppression of Communism Act (Act 44, 1950), in the Supreme Court (Witwatersrand Local Division), 1966.

The item contains Background Papers 1-10, and was provided by the SAIRR for the 1971 Conference.
The statistical data relates to issues such as Projections of the Coloured population 1965-1985, overall enrolment of pupils 1970, enrolment of Coloured pupils 1966-1970, pupil teacher ratio 1969, samples of teachers salaries 1970, provision of school books 1969-1970, and training centres for Coloured cadets.

In 1974 SASO/BPC members were arrested for staging Viva Frelimo rallies at Curries Fountain and at Turfloop University, and charged. They were Saths Cooper, Muntu Myeza, Strini Moodley, Patrick ‘Terror’ Lekota, Nchaupe Mokoape, Pandelani Nefolovhodwe, Nkwenkwe Nkomo, Kaborone Sedibe and Zithulele Cindi. Their trial, officially known as 'State vs Cooper and Eight Others', dragged on for 16 months, after which the accused were found guilty and sentenced to five and six-year terms on Robben Island.

Steve Biko appeared as one of the defence witnesses in the trial in May 1976, and his testimony is included in the court records. The records also include 'The Definition of Black Consciousness'.

The collection contains the records of the trial of the State v. Glenn Moss and Four Others, on charge of contravening the Suppression of Communism Act (Act 44, 1950). The co-accused were Charles David Nupen, Edward Charles Webster, Paul Cedric De Beer and Karel Simon Tip.

Included are the indictment, exhibits, photos, incomplete trial record, State's argument and comments on the evidence of A.H. Murray.