Thursday, 16 October 1952
The African National Congress (ANC) was founded as the SANCC in 1912. John Dube was its first president, and the well known writer and poet, Sol Plaatje, was one of its founding members. Formed in protest against the treatment of black South Africans, it became known as the ANC in 1923, and its main aim was to seek the political, social and economic upliftment of the black community. The popularity of this organisation grew immensely and by the 1940s, a Women’s League and a Youth League had been formed. Following the Nationalist Party victory and the implementation of apartheid in 1948, the ANC launched the Programme of Action-strikes and boycotts against the oppressive regime.
Among the leadership of ANC during this time were Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela, with Albert Luthuli elected as the president-general on 16 October 1952. Following his election, Luthuli’s movements were restricted by the apartheid government in the form of banning orders. In 1956, he was arrested and charged with treason, but subsequent to these charges being dropped, he was faced with another five-year ban. In 1961, Luthuli was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He continued his political work, but was thought to have distanced himself from the ANC after the founding of the military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), because of his passive approach to political activism.
Luthuli’s enormous contribution to the liberation struggle in South Africa is without dispute. He has been lauded as one of the greatest men in South African history and this is reflected in the ‘Order of Luthuli’, the highest award for contributions to democracy, human rights, justice and peace.
Tuesday, 16 October 1984
Archbishop Mpilo Desmond Tutu, world-renowned preacher and strident voice against apartheid, first black Secretary General of the South African Council of Churches, first black Archbishop of the Anglican Church in South Africa, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
The award recognised his unifying role in the fight against apartheid. The Nobel Peace Prize Committee made specific mention of his part in the transition to democracy in South Africa. Despite sustained government harassment, he was a staunch advocate of reconciliation between blacks and whites. Regardless of the significance of the award and the many congratulatory messages from governments across the globe, the South African government declined to celebrate it. However, it pressurised President PW Botha’s regime with its recognition of a visionary in the South African liberation struggle. Botha referred to Tutu as a political preacher, and said he was undeserving of the award.
At the time, Tutu joined Chief Albert Luthuli, also a persistent critic of apartheid, as South Africa’s second Nobel Peace Prize laureate. One of Tutu’s earliest acts against apartheid was to quit his teaching post in protest against the Bantu Education Act 47 of 1953, which was designed to drastically reduce the standard of education available to black South Africans.
Sunday, 16 October 1988
In Harare, Zimbabwe, the African National Congress (ANC) agreed to facilitate the re-admission of South African rugby into international competition, on condition that a non-racial controlling board was established. South Africa had been banned by the International Olympic Committee from participating in international games in 1964, because of its apartheid policy.
The agreement in Harare followed a meeting between the South African Rugby Board’s president, Danie Craven, ANC representatives and members of the SA Rugby Union.
Seven years later, in 1995, South Africa hosted and won the Rugby World Cup. The event took place after the first South African non-racial polls of 1994.
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