The SANNC (later ANC) is founded in Bloemfontein
ANC Founding Members
Date: 8 January, 1912
The South African Native National Congress (SANNC) was founded in 1912 in reaction to the exclusion of Black people from power in the new Union of South Africa. On 8 January 1912, Pixley Seme, Alfred Mangena, Richard Msimang and George Montsioa (all lawyers educated abroad) organised an inaugural conference to launch the South African Native National Congress (SANNC). J.T. Jabavu, the founder of 'Imvo zaBantu' (a mouthpiece for the new Elite's political thinking in the Eastern Cape) was opposed to this move. He described it as a 'dangerous delusion' in that it preached that Africans should have nothing to do with White institutions. Rev. John Dube was elected the SANNC's first president at the conference in absentia.
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 later 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.
To read more about the origins, history and development of the ANC, visit our ANC history feature.
References:
- Odendaal, A. (1984) Vukani Bantu: the beginnings of Black Protest Politics to 1912
- Giliomee, H and Mbenga, B (eds) (2007) New History of South Africa, (Cape Town), p.231
- Pixley Isaka-ka-Seme, [online] Available http://www.sahistory.org.za/ [Accessed: 6 January 2011]
- 'South Africa' [online], available at: http://fromtheold.com/city/bloemfontein [accessed 14 January 2011]
