Pixley ka Isaka Seme

Date: 1 October, 1881

On 1 October 1881, Pixley ka Isaka Semewas born at the Inanda mission station in Natal. Seme was a founding member of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) in 1912, the organisation was later renamed the African National Congress (ANC) in 1923. The organisation was formed as a result of Black dissatisfaction with the South Africa Act of 1910, their treatment after the South African Warand the numerous laws being passed that controlled and restricted Black movement and work.

Seme, nephew of Chief Langalibalele Dube, was elected Treasurer-General in the first inaugural meeting of the SANNC in 1912. He was the barrister and President of the ANC from 1930 to 1936 when he was ousted by Reverend Z.R. Mahabane. Subsequent to this circulation figures for his newspaper Abantu Batho dropped resulting in its closure. His effort to re-launch his political career with the 'All Africa Convention'was not very successful. Seme died in Johannesburg in 1951.

References:

1. Couzens, T., ‘Discovering Seme’ in Rive, R. And Couzens, T., (1993). Seme: the founder of the ANC [online]. Available at www.anc.org.za [Accessed: 24 August 2011]
2. South African History Online, (2011). ‘Pixley ka Isaka Seme’from South African History Online [online]. Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed 24 August 2011]