African National Congress

The African National Congress (ANC) is a centre-left political party, and has been South Africa's governing party (in a coalition) since the establishment of majority rule in May 1994. Originally called the South African Native National Congress until 1923, it was founded to defend the rights of the black majority on 8 January 1912 in Bloemfontein, and counted John Dube (its first president) and poet and author Sol Plaatje among its founder members.

History

Formed initially on January 8th, 1912 by John Dube, along with chiefs, representatives of people's and church organisations, and other prominent individuals to bring all Africans together as one people to defend their rights and freedoms, the ANC from its inception represented both traditional and modern elements, from tribal chiefs to church and community bodies and educated black professionals, though women were only admitted as affiliate members from 1931 and as full members in 1943.

Related Topics:
January 8th - 1912 - John Dube - 1931 - 1943

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The formation of the ANC Youth League in 1944 by Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and Oliver Tambo heralded a new generation committed to building non-violent mass action against the legal underpinnings of the white minority's supremacy. In 1947 the ANC allied with the Natal Indian Congress and Transvaal Indian congress, broadening the basis of its opposition to the government.

Related Topics:
ANC Youth League - 1944 - Nelson Mandela - Walter Sisulu - Oliver Tambo - 1947 - Natal Indian Congress - Transvaal Indian congress

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The return of an Afrikaner-led National Party government by the overwhelmingly white electorate in 1948 signaled the advent of the policy of apartheid. During the 1950s, non-whites were removed from electoral rolls, residence and mobility laws were tightened and political activities restricted.

Related Topics:
Afrikaner - National Party - 1948 - Apartheid - 1950s

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In June 1952, the ANC joined with other anti-apartheid organisations in a Defiance Campaign against the restriction of political, labour and residential rights, during which protesters deliberately violated oppressive laws, following the example of Mahatma Gandhi's passive resistance in Natal and India. The campaign was called off in April 1953 after new laws prohibiting protest meetings were passed.

Related Topics:
1952 - Defiance Campaign - Mahatma Gandhi - Passive resistance - Natal - India - 1953

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In June 1955, the Congress of the People, organised by the ANC and Indian, Coloured and White organizations at Kliptown near Johannesburg, adopted the Freedom Charter, henceforth the fundamental document of the anti-apartheid struggle with its demand for equal rights for all regardless of race. As opposition to the regime's policies continued, 156 leading members of the ANC and allied organisations were arrested in 1956; the resulting "Treason Trial" ended with their acquittal five years later.

Related Topics:
1955 - Congress of the People - Johannesburg - Freedom Charter - 1956 - Treason Trial

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In 1959, a number of members broke away from the ANC because they objected to the ANC's reorientation from African nationalist policies. They formed the rival Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), led by Robert Sobukwe.

Related Topics:
1959 - African nationalist - Pan Africanist Congress - Robert Sobukwe

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Protest and banning

The ANC planned a campaign against the Pass Laws, which required blacks to carry an identity card at all times to justify their presence in "white" areas, to begin on 31 March 1960. The PAC pre-empted the ANC by holding peaceful protests 10 days earlier, during which 69 protesters were killed and 180 injured by police fire in what became known as the Sharpeville Massacre.

Related Topics:
Pass Laws - Blacks - Identity card - 31 March - 1960 - 10 days earlier - Sharpeville Massacre

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In the aftermath of the tragedy, both organisations were banned from political activity. The ANC subsequently went underground and increased their violent protest actions to include operations some have described as terrorism.

Related Topics:
Political activity - Terrorism

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International opposition to the regime increased throughout the 1950s and 1960s, fueled by the growing number of newly independent nations and the civil rights movement in the United States. In 1960, the leader of the ANC, Albert Lutuli, won the Nobel Peace Prize, a feat that would be repeated in 1993 by Nelson Mandela.

Related Topics:
1950s - 1960s - Civil rights movement - United States - 1960 - Albert Lutuli - Nobel Peace Prize - 1993 - Nelson Mandela

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Violent political resistance

Now underground or in exile, the ANC leadership concluded that the methods of non-violence such as those utilised by Gandhi against the British Empire during their colonisation of India, were not suitable against the brutal apartheid system. It was decided that military tactics had to be used, which primarily involved targeting and sabotaging the government's resources, with a philosophy of avoiding bloodshed at all costs. A military wing was formed in 1961, called Umkhonto we Sizwe, meaning "Spear of the Nation". However, Mandela, as its first leader, was arrested for terrorism in 1962 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 on Robben Island, along with Sisulu and other ANC leaders after the Rivonia Trial.

Related Topics:
Gandhi - British Empire - India - Military - Sabotaging - 1961 - Umkhonto we Sizwe - 1962 - 1964 - Robben Island - Rivonia Trial

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Almost thirty years passed, with international pressure and internal dissent mounting in the country. With the situation becoming ever more untenable, State President F.W. de Klerk unbanned the ANC and PAC on 2 February 1990.

Related Topics:
State President - F.W. de Klerk - 2 February - 1990

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