Apartheid Key Individuals and Groups (1948-64)

African National Congress (ANC)

It was founded as the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) in 1912, partially influenced by Mahatma Gandhi in 1894

Aim: To create a non-White party opposing racial discrimination

Achievements:

• More effectively used the size and mass of the organization

• Brought the injustices to the attention of the world

• Gained the moral high ground through its early non-violent strategy

• In forging alliances with other anti-apartheid groups: SAIC, COP

Failures:

• Failed in its ultimate objective of bringing down the apartheid system

• The split of PAC in 1959 led to further fragmented anti-apartheid movements

• The decision to adopt the armed struggle confirmed the image of ANC as at heart a terrorist organization to many Whites

• It wasn’t effective on responding the government after the Sharpeville massacre

• A lengthy period of relative quiet after 1964 arrests

The South African Communist Party (SACP) / The Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA)

Founded in 1921

Effective:

• It has a close tie with the ANC, it helped orient the ANC towards non-racialism and in a more militant direction

• The Miners’ strike of 1946 was successful, despite it being out of the Tim frame of the period being examined, it marked the true beginning of the struggle

• In the communist world, SACP considered domestic factors over the proletarian revolution.

• SCAP leader Joe Slovo became the head of MK

Not effective:

• ANC leaders were not communist so ANC is always bigger than SACP.

• ANC might have gained more support from the Whites if SACP wasn’t there

• The ANC’s proximity to the SACP alienated its Africanist wing, which broke away to form the PAC, thus splitting the liberation movement

Umkhonto we Sizwe [WK]

Created in 16 December 1961

Carrying out a series of explosions targeting government buildings and electrical installations across the nation

Successes:

• It showed that Africans were not afraid to take up arms against the government

• Helped to keep the spirit of resistance alive during the dark days of the last 1960s and early 1970s

Failures:

• Gave the government the green light to launch an all-out assault on the liberation movement

• Most important leaders were arrested and imprisoned by the authorities, and others were forced into exile

• Its operations were largely limited to acts of sabotage

Albert Luthuli

The president-general of the ANC from 1952-67

One of the key organizers of the Defiance Campaign

Burned his passbook following the Sharpeville massacre

Nelson Mandela

The dominant figure in the liberation movement between 1948-64

Joined the ANC in 1944 same as Luthuli

Formed the ANC Youth League with Sisulu and his early political mentor

The Defiance Campaign was significant in his career