The ANC celebrates its centenary anniversary in Bloemfontein

On 8 January 2012, the African National Congress (ANC) celebrated a centenary anniversary in Bloemfontein. The centenary was celebrated in a year-long programme that involved all the country’s nine provinces and paid homage to each of the twelve presidents of the ANC. Amongst the ANC presidents for the past 100 years was; John Dube, Sefako Makgatho, Zaccheus Mahabane, Josiah Gumede, Pixley Seme, Alfred Xuma, James Moroka, Albert Luthuli, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. The history of the ANC dates back to 8 January 1912 when it was found in Bloemfontein as South African Native National Congress (SANNC). This move was a reaction to the exclusion of Black people from power in the new Union of South Africa. Pixley Seme, Alfred Mangena, Richard Msimang and George Montsioa (all lawyers educated abroad) organised an inaugural conference to launch the SANNC.  John Dube was elected the SANNC's first president at the conference. A committee was formed to draft a SANNC constitution so that an umbrella federation of all African organizations could be formed. Much like the African People's Organisation (APO) and the Natal Indian Congress, exclusivity along the lines of colour were a norm. In the case of the SANNC tribal and class associations defined its membership and women were not permitted to be members. Though conservative, the SANNC gradually developed a political consciousness among Africans. Their aims were to unite African people, extend political rights, and to promote their social and economic advancement. The SANNC was renamed African National Congress (ANC) in 1923. The colour, class and gender restrictions began to fall away in stages after 1917. Women were only permitted to be full members of the ANC in 1943.