So, we have had AA in South Africa for 60 years - the first meeting was 60 years ago today. I just thought, if any one is interested, that I would like to share some of the history with you:

 In 1946 two men in Johannesburg picked up the same copy of Reader’s Digest which carried a story about Alcoholics Anonymous in America and each wrote asking for further information. These two men were Arthur S and Solomon M. It seems that Solomon wrote first but he never founded a group and so the official date of AA starting in SA is October 18, 1946 when Arthur held the first meeting. Arthur lived in a palatial house in Parkview and was a stockbroker. Solomon lived in a one roomed house in Alexandra Township - a fairly squalid township. It is fitting for South Africa that the message was simultaneously given to both a black man and a white man.  AA upheld its tradition for membership which states: “The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking” and flouted the segregation laws in South Africa to the extent that it could. Our fellowship has also gone a long way to translating for local languages much of the literature that forms a part of our recovery and carrying of the message. SWe even have a Zulu Big Book. Solomon remained a loner, while Arthur had the first meeting in his home. At this stage the only literature the group had was the small pamphlet issued by the fellowship which consisted of excerpts from the Big Book. No one had seen the book itself and no one had heard of the Twelve Traditions. Arthur used money to entice members, offering them rehab funding if they came to meetings. Unfortunately, Arthur did not stay sober and after a few months went on a binge and died in March 1947. But the seeds of the miracle of AA were planted and the fellowship spread rapidly. The story in Reader’s Digest was a little over one page long and was condensed from the Grapevine. Despite the brevity of the piece, the message was carried across the world and as a result we have a thriving fellowship today which has brought lasting sobriety to a great number of people. There are about 18 meetings a week in Johannesburg alone.