The African National Congress, the strongest political block in South Africa was born six years earlier than the first beacon of hope of the South Africans. Rolihlahla Dalibhunga Mandela who eventually became known as Nelson Mandela was born in a small village in the Transkei province in the Eastern Cape of South Africa on July 18, 1918. At that time, ANC which was formed to end white domination and create a multi-racial South Africa campaigned against anti-black policies of the government. That era was marked by fast changes in South Africa, many new laws and taxes for blacks implied by government (one of the most powerful – Land Act, 1913) were implemented. Blacks were forced to work and they couldn’t move freely.

ANC’S campaign in the 1920’s was still careful and their appeals were ignored by the government. During those years, Mandela was receiving a good education at local boarding schools. Mandela entered Fort Hare University and completed two years before deciding to leave for Johannesburg to avoid a marriage arranged for him by his guardian, chief Jongintaba. Mandela met Walter Sisulu, who became a mentor and lifelong friend. Sisulu introduced Mandela to the law firm Witkin, Sidelsky and Eidelman, where he obtained a position. Mandela earned his B.A. degree, enrolls in law school and joins the ANC.

Government policies became harsher and more racist. The National Party passed the Suppression of Communism Act, the Population and Registration Act, and the Group Areas act, which strictly enforce apartheid policies and are intended to crush any mass movement. Increased attacks on the rights of black people created a need for a military response from the ANC marking the beginning of greater cooperation between Africans, colored people and Indians.

Believing that the ANC leadership is too staid, Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu formed the ANC Youth League. They planned to organize mass support for the ANC Their ideas were based on African nationalism and they utilized this idea to involve masses into military struggles. They gathered support among the new population. Their program of action called for strikes, boycotts and defiance. The organization was adopted by the ANC in 1949. After Dr. Daniel Malan, leader of the dominant National Party rejected the ANC's calls for legitimate rights for blacks, the ANC launched the Defiance Campaign, a nonviolent mass resistance. Mandela was its volunteer-in-chief. In the next five months, over 8,500 took part in the campaign.

The Defiance Campaign led by ANC was a mass movement of resistance to apartheid. The government tried to stop them by banning party leaders; however it was too late as the movement had acquired too much power. Mandela was arrested and charged for violating the Suppression of Communism Act. He and other ANC members were found guilty, but the sentence of nine months imprisonment was suspended for two years. Mandela was also banned from attending meetings or gatherings for the next two years. These bans continue on and off for the next nine years.

At the annual ANC conference, Mandela became its deputy president. He made a plan for the ANC to work underground--the M-Plan. The ANC created the Congress of the People, representing members of all races, to develop a set of principles for a new South Africa. They also established the Freedom Charter, which supports the abolition of racial discrimination and oppression but the government claimed that this was a communist's document. Mandela was arrested along with over 150 other people and tried for high treason. The "Treason Trial" took up most of Mandela's time over the next few years.

The government of South Africa resorted to many acts of sabotage and more violent methods of repression In September 1958, Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd became prime minister and strictly enforced apartheid policies. As former minister of native affairs, Verwoerd had been responsible for much of the apartheid legislation. Parliament passed the Promotion of Bantu Self-Government Act, which forced the resettlement of blacks into eight separate "tribal homelands." The ANC vigorously opposed the act. However, some tribal leaders adopted the Bantu policy and worked with the government. A former ANC Youth League member, Robert Sobukwe, launched the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), a new political group that opposed including whites and Indians in the anti-apartheid struggle. Then the Sharpeville Massacre of the 1960’s happened wherein anti-apartheid protesters gathered to challenge South Africa's pass laws that prescribed where blacks can go. The police opened fire and 69 people died--most of them from bullet wounds in the back. The government declared a State of Emergency and banned the ANC and other opposition groups. Mandela was arrested. Oliver Tambo left the country under orders to work for the ANC cause from exile.

After which Mandela and the other defendants in the Treason Trial were found not guilty. It was a big victory for the ANC. The ANC responded to government's banning by endorsing an "armed struggle." Mandela went underground and launched the armed struggle by forming Umkhonto we Sizwe (The Spear of the Nation)--or MK. MK's policy is to target only government offices and symbols of apartheid, not people. Mandela escaped the country and traveled in Africa and Europe, studying guerrilla warfare and building support for the ANC.

Returning to South Africa, Mandela was arrested, convicted and sentenced to five years. He was held on Robben Island. Although already serving a sentence, Mandela was brought to trial again along with other ANC leaders, and charged with sabotage and attempting to violently overthrow the government. Known as the Rivonia Trial, the accused escape execution, but the judge sentenced them to life in prison. In the winter of 1964, Mandela and his comrades were sent to Robben Island.

During the 1980’s Oliver Tambo and the ANC launch the "Release Mandela" campaign. In the following years, numerous countries and international groups sign petitions, pass resolutions and hold rallies for Mandela's release in exile. After 18 years on Robben Island, Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland.

These events caught the attention of the world which eventually led to campaigns by different sectors of the international community calling for the release of Nelson Mandela. After 27 years of imprisonment, Mandela was released. The ANC and the National Party began negotiations on forming a new multi-racial democracy for South Africa. These talks continued off and on for months, with delays due to the ANC's anger over the violence in the black townships. The ANC and the government signed the Pretoria Minute, in which both parties agreed to end the armed struggle. For the first time, the ANC held its annual conference in South Africa in July 1991. Mandela was elected ANC president.

Violence continued in townships with frequent clashes between police and residents. Frustrated over the unsuccessful negotiations, the ANC decided on a policy of "rolling mass action" consisting of strikes, protests and boycotts, to show the government the support the ANC has across the country. Meanwhile, the violence continued with an Inkatha raid on ANC members that left 46 dead in Boipatong township. The rolling mass action culminated in a general strike protesting the violence.

The increasing death toll forced Mandela and South African president de Klerk to restart negotiations. They signed the Record of Understanding, which promises to establish formal investigations into the violence and police actions. It also established an elected constitutional assembly that will develop a new constitution for the country.

For the first time in South Africa's history all races voted in democratic elections in April 1994. Mandela was elected president and the ANC won 252 of the 400 seats in the national assembly.

ANC although often under an onslaught of criticism still maintains a strong hold on South African politics due to the vital role it played in the fight against apartheid. Nelson Mandela, its previous leader was able to inspire and catch the attention of the world and bring its focus on the plight of blacks not only in his country but for the whole continent. Up to this day, and even with Jacob Zuma as its leader, ANC still holds Mandela with great respect for the role he played in its dominance and forwarding of goals.

By:

Rachael Seso

Perez, Vrieloukarl

Perdiguerra, May Ann

Bautista, Eddelaine