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African National Congress is founded
The ANC is a national liberation movement that was founded in 1912 to unite the African people and spearhead the struggle for fundamental political, social and economic change. -
Spear of the Nation is formed
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Congress youth league is founded
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Defiance campain
The Defiance Campaign in 1952 was the first large-scale, multi-racial political mobilization against apartheid laws under a common leadership – by the African National Congress, South African Indian Congress, and the Coloured People’s Congress. More than 8,000 trained volunteers went to jail for “defying unjust laws,” laws that had grown worse since the National Party came to power in 1948. Volunteers were jailed for failing to carry passes, violating the curfew on Africans, and entering locatio -
Sharpeville massacre
On 21 March 1960 at least 180 black Africans were injured (there are claims of as many as 300) and 69 killed when South African police opened fire on approximately 300 demonstrators, who were protesting against the pass laws, at the township of Sharpeville, near Vereeniging in the Transvaal. In similar demonstrations at the police station in Vanderbijlpark, another person was shot. Later that day at Langa, a township outside Cape Town, police baton charged and fired tear gas at the gathered prot -
Albert Luthuli wins noble peace prize
Albert Luthuli was awarded the 1960 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the non-violent struggle against apartheid. He was the first African, and the first person from outside Europe and the Americas, to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. -
Nelson Mandela is sentenced to life in prison
In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison -
Soweto uprising
When high-school students in Soweto started protesting for better education on 16 June 1976, police responded with teargas and live bullets. It is commemorated today by a South African national holiday, Youth day, which honors all the young people who lost their lives in the struggle against Apartheid and Bantu Education. -
Steave Biko dies in police custody
(news report) The leader of the black consciousness movement in South Africa, Steve Biko, has died in police custody.
The 30-year-old's death was confirmed by the commissioner of police, General Gert Prinsloo, today. It is understood Mr Biko died in hospital in Pretoria. The government minister of Justice and Police, James Kruger, stated that Mr Biko had been transferred 740 miles (1,191 km) from Port Elizabeth to Pretoria for medical attention following a seven-day hunger strike. -
Desmond Tutu wins noble prize
Desmond Tutu win noble prize for pushing for
1. equal civil rights for all
2. the abolition of South Africa's passport laws
3. a common system of education
4. the cessation of forced deportation from South Africa to the so-called "homelands" -
Nelson Mandela is released form prison
Nelson Mandela is realesed from prison after 27 years behind bars -
Nelson Mandela becomes president of south africa
Nelson Mandela is elected persident with a landslide victory