Brief History of the ANC and Resistance

Pre- 1912 history A period of colonial conquest and expansion.

The Portuguese navigated around the Cape in the 15th and 16th century. The Dutch also started using Cape as their trade route. On the 6th of April 1652, the first group of Dutch settlers, led by Jan van Riebeeck, arrived in the Cape to establish refreshment station for Dutch East Indian Company. In 1795 the British also arrived in the Cape with the same mission and conquered Cape. With time the White settlers began a movement inland, eastward and north eastward. That movement resulted in battles with African tribes residing in those areas. The last such battle was in 1906, Bambatha Rebellion, when Chief Bambata and his people were protesting against tax imposed on them. Between 1880 and 1902, two wars were fought between the British and Boers. In those wars African people participated on both sides of the conflict. The end of that conflict saw four provinces being combined as Union of South Africa in 1910. In the formation of that union, black people were excluded as part of citizenry. The African people realised the necessity to unite. That exclusion of Black people led to the formation of South African National Congress (ANC) with Rev John Dube as first President and Sol Plaatjie as the first Secretary.

1912 - 1943 A Beginning of National Political Organisation as a weapon of struggle.

In 1912, a conference was held in Bloemfontein to form South African Native National Congress (changed to African National Congress in 1923). This signalled a change of form struggle to modern forms with unity of African people. The ANC had two houses during its formation, the upper house of Chiefs and lower house of Commoners. In 1913 the Land Act was enacted to dispossess Black people of the right to land. A delegation of the leadership of the ANC went to Britain to have the law disallowed. 09 January 1914, National Party was formed in Bloemfontein by a breakaway from South African Party. In 1919, the Industrial Commercial Union, led by Clement Kadalie, was formed to organise workers In 1920, more than 71000 mineworkers went on strike and the ANC in Transvaal supported the Strike. Some ANC leaders did not approve of militant actions like strikes, they wanted persuasions with the regime. In 1921, the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) was formed by ISL and other socialist organisations In 1922, white mineworkers revolted against the usage of cheap black labourers in semi-skilled jobs: Rand Revolt. The CPSA supported the revolt. In 1927 1930, Joshua Gumede became the President, he was also a member of the CPSA and tried to revitalise activism of the ANC. In the conference of 1930, the Old guard were worried of ANC becoming militant and organised to oust Gumede in the conference. In the 1930s the ANC became dormant to the point of disappearing. In 1942 conference, the youth felt the need to form the Youth League in opposition to the motherbodys dormant and liberal position.

1944 - 1960 Militant methods ushered in.

In Sept 1944, the ANC Youth League was formed and a manifesto was unveiled. In 1946, About 100 000 Black Mineworkers went on Strike in the East and West Rand
ANC Free State Party took over government and introduced Apartheid as a legal system. In 1948 the NationalProvince: Oupa Khoabane

In 1949, the ANC adopted the programme of Action, coming from the YL, which introduced militant methods of struggle. That led to Dr Xuma leaving his Presidency and Dr. Moroka taking over. In 1950 CPSA was banned through introduction of Suppression of Communism Act. In 1952, the Defiance campaign was carried out throughout the country. Mandela was a Volunteer-in-Chief In 1953, Bantu Education was introduced. SA Coloured Peoples Congress, Congress of Democrats and SA Congress of Trade Unions were formed. In 1955, the Freedom Charter was launched In 1956, the ANC adopted Freedom Charter. The same year Women marched to Union Building in Pretoria in protest against pass laws. Also, more than 150 leaders were charged on Treason. In 1959, the Africanist broke away from the ANC and formed Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) led by Robert Sobukwe. In 1960, about 69 protesters were massacred by police at Sharpville, and ANC and PAC were banned.

1960 -1990 Beginning of Armed struggle and underground

In 1961, uMkhonto We Sizwe (MK) was formed and was announced through sabotage activities on Dec 16. In 1963, High Command of MK was arrested at Rivonia and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964. In 1967-8, MK operatives joined Zipra forces in fighting Rhodesian forces at Wankie and Spolilo. In 1969, Morogoro Conference was held. The students, under the leadership of Steve Biko, who broke away from NUSAS a year before, formed SA Student Organisation (SASO) which espoused Black Consciousness (BC). In 1973, a massive workers strike was held in Durban. In 1976-77, the Soweto students protested against introduction of Afrikaans as medium of instruction at schools, many were killed, detained and while others skipped the country. The protest spread throughout the country. In 1977, Black Consciousness (BC) organisations were banned and Steve Biko was killed in detention. In 1978, Azanian Peoples Organisation (AZAPO) was formed. It adopted BC In 1979 Congress of SA Students (COSAS) was formed. It was the first organisation to adopt freedom charter after 1960.) and AZASO were formed as BC adherents. In 1980, another wave of uprising engulfed the country. AZASO adopted Freedom Charter. In 1983, United Democratic Front (UDF) was formed. In 1984, another national wave of boycotts and uprising sprang up. In 1985 the Congress of SA Trade Unions (COSATU) was formed. Kabwe Conference was held and non-Africans were allowed for the first time in the leadership of the ANC. COSAS was banned. In 1987, South African Youth Congress (SAYCO) was formed, it brought all Youth Congresses under one umbrella. In 1990, ANC was unbanned and Political Prisoners released.

Pre - 1994 The Dawn of democratic period and cessation of hostilities

In 1991, the National Conference of the ANC that elected Nelson Mandela as the President was held in Durban.
ANC Free State Province: Elections were In 1994, the first Democratic Oupa Khoabane held and Mandela was elected President.