Contents
- The SANNC and the South Africa Act
- The 1913 Land Act and deputations to London
- Continued resistance and internal criticism
- Rejuvenation of the ANC and intensification of the struggle
- The ANC and the early development of apartheid
- A change to armed struggle and the state’s intensified repression
- Armed Struggle; 1970s - 1980s :The revival of armed activity
- Armed Struggle; 1984-1990: The anti-apartheid struggle accelerates
Reference
African National Congress - Origins
The SANNC and the South Africa Act
African National Congress - Founding Members. The ANC was formed in 1912 as a result of many grievances. This included black dissatisfaction with the South Africa Act of 1910, their treatment after the South African War and numerous laws that controlled and restricted black movement and labour. In 1909, a group of black delegates from the four provinces met in Waaihoek, Bloemfontein to propose means to object to the draft South Africa Act, and Union constitution.
This delegation is considered a meeting of the then South African Native Convention (SANC), which was convened by Zulu politician Jon Dube and Dr. Walter Rubusana. They decided to send a delegation to London to convince the British government not to accept the Union in its present form. This delegation was led by WP Schreiner, but failed in its aim.
The SANC continued to be active in 1910 and in 1911, objecting to further discriminatory legislation. The need for a permanent body to represent blacks on a national level was. The main initiative to transform the body into a more representative and dynamic organisation was taken by Pixley ka Isaka Seme, a well educated attorney, and author Solomon Plaatje.
On 8 January 1912 a group of black intellectuals met in Bloemfontein. The Transvaal was the best represented with 25 delegates, while other influential people, including John Langalibalele Dube and John Tengo Jabavu were unable to attend. The South African Native National Congress (SANNC), which changed its name to the ANC in 1923, was formed at this meeting. Dube was elected as the first President in absentia, Plaatje as Secretary-General and Seme as Treasurer-General. A special committee was appointed to draw up a constitution., which outlined five basic aims:
- To promote unity and mutual co-operation between the government and the South African black people
- To maintain a channel between the government and the black people
- To promote the social, educational and political upliftment of the black people
- To promote understanding between chiefs, and loyalty to the British crown and all lawful authorities and to promote understanding between white and black South Africans
- To address the just grievances of the black people
Although the contents of the constitution were not radical, there was no agreement on the constitution and therefore was only finalised in 1919. The SANNC was an elitist rather than a mass movement in its early days, and consisted of people with an education or a position in the community.