African National Congress

African National Congress
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Name	African National Congress
Leader	Cyril Ramaphosa
Founder	John Dube, Pixley ka Isaka Seme, Solomon Plaatje
Founded	1912
Headquarters	Luthuli House, Johannesburg
Youth wing	African National Congress Youth League
Women's wing	African National Congress Women's League
Ideology	African nationalism, Social democracy, Left-wing populism
International	Socialist International

African National Congress is a social democratic political party in South Africa, founded in 1912 by John Dube, Pixley ka Isaka Seme, and Solomon Plaatje. The party has a long history of fighting against apartheid and racism in South Africa, with notable leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and Walter Sisulu. The party is a member of the Socialist International and has close ties with other social democratic parties, including the British Labour Party and the German Social Democratic Party. The party's headquarters is located in Luthuli House, Johannesburg, and its youth wing is the African National Congress Youth League, while its women's wing is the African National Congress Women's League.

● History

The party's history dates back to 1912, when it was founded as the South African Native National Congress. The party's early leaders, including John Dube and Solomon Plaatje, were influenced by the African-American civil rights movement and the Indian independence movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi. The party played a key role in the Defiance Campaign of the 1950s, led by Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, which aimed to challenge the apartheid laws of South Africa. The party was banned in 1960, following the Sharpeville massacre, but continued to operate in exile, with leaders such as Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma playing key roles in the Anti-Apartheid Movement. The party was unbanned in 1990, and Nelson Mandela was released from prison, leading to the country's first multiracial democratic elections in 1994, in which the party won a majority of the votes, with the support of parties such as the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party.

● Ideology

The party's ideology is based on African nationalism, social democracy, and left-wing populism. The party's Freedom Charter, adopted in 1955, calls for the establishment of a democratic and egalitarian society in South Africa, with equal rights for all citizens, regardless of race or ethnicity. The party has also been influenced by Marxism and Leninism, with many of its leaders, including Joe Slovo and Chris Hani, being members of the South African Communist Party. The party's economic policies are based on a mix of state-owned enterprises and private enterprise, with a strong emphasis on social welfare and poverty reduction, as outlined in the party's Reconstruction and Development Programme, which was implemented in the 1990s, with the support of organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

● Structure

The party's structure is based on a democratic centralism model, with a strong emphasis on grassroots democracy and participatory democracy. The party's highest decision-making body is the National Conference, which is held every five years, and is attended by delegates from the party's provincial and regional structures. The party's National Executive Committee is responsible for the day-to-day running of the party, and is headed by the party's President, who is currently Cyril Ramaphosa. The party also has a strong women's wing, the African National Congress Women's League, and a youth wing, the African National Congress Youth League, which play important roles in the party's decision-making processes, and have close ties with organizations such as the African Women's Development and Communication Network and the All Africa Students' Union.

● Notable Members

The party has had many notable members throughout its history, including Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Desmond Tutu, and Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Other notable members include Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, and Cyril Ramaphosa, who have all served as President of South Africa. The party has also had close ties with other notable figures, including Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Fidel Castro, who have all supported the party's struggle against apartheid and racism. The party's members have also been recognized for their contributions to the struggle against apartheid, with awards such as the Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to Nelson Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk in 1993, and the Order of Luthuli, which is awarded by the South African government to individuals who have made significant contributions to the struggle against apartheid.

● Controversies

The party has been involved in several controversies throughout its history, including the Sharpeville massacre and the Soweto uprising. The party has also been criticized for its handling of issues such as corruption and poverty, with many critics arguing that the party has failed to deliver on its promises to the poor and working class. The party has also been involved in conflicts with other parties, including the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Democratic Alliance, which have accused the party of being authoritarian and undemocratic. The party has also faced criticism from organizations such as the Human Rights Watch and the Amnesty International, which have accused the party of human rights abuses, including the use of torture and forced disappearances.

● Elections

The party has won every national election in South Africa since the country's transition to democracy in 1994, with the support of parties such as the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party. The party won 62.9% of the vote in the 2019 general election, with the Democratic Alliance coming second with 20.8% of the vote, and the Economic Freedom Fighters coming third with 10.8% of the vote. The party has also performed well in provincial and local government elections, with the support of organizations such as the South African Local Government Association and the Provincial Governments of South Africa. However, the party's support has been declining in recent years, with many voters expressing dissatisfaction with the party's handling of issues such as corruption and poverty, and the party's leadership, including Cyril Ramaphosa and David Mabuza, facing criticism for their handling of these issues.

Category:Political parties in South Africa