Jewish socialists have been ignored in writing the history of Jewish South Africa. They were important for the formation of the left in this country. The Jewish Workers Club (JWC), founded in the 1890's, was a social meeting place for impoverished Jewish immigrants. It also acted in their interests against employers. Few Jews were at one stage militantly anti-capitalist, and therefore
anti-Zionist. Even if their membership was small, their influence at particular
times in South Africa's history, was widespread and significant. It
was important as part of a general struggle, a struggle which, for the JWC, had
its height in the anti-fascist conflicts of the 1930's and the attempts then to
permit black South Africans to participate in the governing of their country in its
economic and political aspects.