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1920s and 1930s:

Continued resistance and internal criticism

During the next years the ANC leadership changed to one more inclined to action than passive deputation, but very little was achieved during the 1920s and 1930s. The ANC continued to criticise the government and call for changes, participated in the 1919 anti-pass campaign, and resisted the Hertzog Bills. The effects were however not far reaching, and their support base remained middle-class. It was the trade unions that were being more effective with regard to the masses at this time. The late 1920s saw internal conflict between moderates and those that supported the more radical ideas of Garvey. Lack of political success eventually led to those with more radical ideas coming to the fore, with Josiah Gumede being one of the most prominent from this group.


Josiah Tshangana Gumede
ANC President 1927-1930
Image source: anc.org.za

In 1927 Gumede became president of the ANC, and spent some time in the Soviet Union. The ANC began to work together with the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) on some of their campaigns, until Gumede lost his presidency in 1930 and the ANC officially rejected communism. Seme took over as president, and tried to bring the ANC back to its more moderate path. However, the next years were filled with excessive internal conflict, which left the ANC quite ineffective against the government, especially with the latter increasing its actions against resistance organisations and with the ANC lacking the support of the masses. There was even a suggestion in the mid-1930s to disband the ANC and start a new organisation that did not have the problems with leadership conflict, but the Jubilee Celebration in 1937 showed that the ANC did still have a large support base.

 

Next: 1940s: Rejuvenation of the ANC and intensification of the struggle

Previous: Early Resistance: The 1913 Land Act and deputations to London