African National Congress

African National Congress
source
Name	African National Congress
Foundation	1912
Founder	John Dube, Owen Mkize, Pixley ka Isaka Seme, Sol Plaatje
Headquarters	Johannesburg
Country	South Africa
Position	Centre-left to left-wing
Youth wing	African National Congress Youth League
Womens wing	African National Congress Women's League
Student wing	South African Students' Organisation
Parliamentary leader	Cyril Ramaphosa
Leader	Cyril Ramaphosa
Leader1 title	President

African National Congress The African National Congress is a major political organisation in South Africa founded in 1912 that campaigned against racial segregation, colonial-era legislation and apartheid. It led a liberation struggle involving alliances with South African Communist Party, Congress of South African Trade Unions, and international partners such as United Nations bodies and anti-apartheid movements in United Kingdom, United States, and Sweden. Since the end of apartheid in 1994 the organisation has been the dominant political force in post-apartheid South Africa, shaping policy through leaders like Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, and Jacob Zuma.

History

The ANC was established by figures including John Dube, Pixley ka Isaka Seme, Sol Plaatje, and Owen Mkize in response to laws like the Natives Land Act, 1913 and the political marginalisation under Union of South Africa (1910–1961). During the 1940s the organisation transformed under activists from the African National Congress Youth League such as Anton Lembede, Oliver Tambo, and Nelson Mandela, leading campaigns including the Defiance Campaign and the adoption of the Freedom Charter at the Congress of the People (1955). Repression escalated after incidents including the Sharpeville massacre and the Soweto uprising, prompting the ANC to adopt armed struggle via Umkhonto we Sizwe while many leaders went into exile to build international support through contacts with African National Congress in exile, the Organisation of African Unity, and anti-apartheid networks in Scandinavia and the Non-Aligned Movement. The ANC and its allies faced imprisonment of leaders at Robben Island and trials such as the Rivonia Trial, while negotiating with the apartheid-era National Party led to the release of Mandela and the transition facilitated by figures like F. W. de Klerk culminating in the first democratic elections of 1994.

Ideology and Policies

ANC ideology synthesises strands from leaders and allied movements including Africanism, African socialism, and elements of social democracy influenced by the South African Communist Party and trade unionism within Congress of South African Trade Unions. Policy platforms have addressed restitution linked to the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994, affirmative action reflected in Black Economic Empowerment initiatives, and legislative reforms embodied in the Constitution of South Africa and the Bill of Rights (South Africa). The ANC’s economic debates have involved figures like Trevor Manuel and Pravin Gordhan and tensions between neoliberal programmes such as the Growth, Employment and Redistribution strategy and calls for state-led development reminiscent of National Democratic Revolution aims. Social policy has intersected with public-health campaigns confronting HIV/AIDS epidemics, involving controversies over policy under Thabo Mbeki and subsequent shifts under Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma governments.

Organisation and Leadership

The ANC’s organisational structure includes the National Executive Committee (South Africa), National Working Committee (South Africa), provincial branches such as in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape, and allied formations including the South African Communist Party and Congress of South African Trade Unions. Leadership roles have been occupied by Oliver Tambo during exile, Nelson Mandela as first post-apartheid president, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, and current figures like Cyril Ramaphosa. Internal dynamics have featured factional contests exemplified by leadership battles involving Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki and policy disagreements in national conferences such as the ANC National Conference in Polokwane (2007). The ANC also maintains subsidiary bodies and leagues including the African National Congress Women's League, Umkhonto we Sizwe (military wing), and the African National Congress Youth League which have shaped candidate selection, cadre deployment, and patronage networks through mechanisms like the Cadre deployment policy.

Electoral Performance

Since the first universal suffrage elections in 1994 the ANC has won successive national elections, securing majorities in the National Assembly of South Africa while contesting provincial contests in provinces including Gauteng, Limpopo, and Eastern Cape. Notable electoral milestones include the 1994 victory led by Nelson Mandela, the 2004 landslide under Thabo Mbeki, and diminishing majorities during the tenures of Jacob Zuma and the 2016 municipal setbacks in cities like Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay. Election outcomes have been influenced by coalitions with parties such as the Congress of the People (South African political party), and competitors including the Democratic Alliance (South Africa), the Economic Freedom Fighters, and regional parties like the Inkatha Freedom Party. Recent electoral cycles have raised questions about majority thresholds, coalition formation, and trends in voter realignment.

Role in South African Society and Government

The ANC has been central to transitional justice processes including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission chaired by Desmond Tutu and to constitutional development culminating in the Constitution of South Africa (1996). Its governance has overseen national institutions such as the South African Reserve Bank, nationalisation debates, and public service appointments impacting entities like South African Social Security Agency and state-owned enterprises including Eskom and Transnet. The party’s social mobilisation has linked with civil-society organisations such as Treatment Action Campaign and grassroots movements in informal settlements like Khayelitsha and Alexandra. Controversies around corruption and state capture involving figures like Jacob Zuma prompted inquiries such as the Zondo Commission and reforms aimed at strengthening institutions like the Public Protector (South Africa) and National Prosecuting Authority.

Category:Political parties in South Africa