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Foundng of the ANC
Tha ANC was founded in order to help fight for the rights of the black people of South Africa. The ANC is still active today. -
Congress Youth League founded
The Congress Youth League was founded in 1944. It later took control of the African National Congress. It took off with the help of Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, and Nelson Mandella. -
Defiance Campaign
The Defiance Campaign against Unjust Laws was presented by the African National Congress (ANC) at a conference held in Bloemfontein, South Africa in December 1951.
The ANC decided to implement a national action the following year based on non-cooperation with certain laws considered unjust and discriminatory. -
Albert Luthuli wins te Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize 1960 was awarded to Albert Lutuli. Albert Lutuli received his Nobel Prize one year later, in 1961. During the selection process in 1960, the Norwegian Nobel Committee decided that none of the year's nominations met the criteria as outlined in the will of Alfred Nobel. According to the Nobel Foundation's statutes, the Nobel Prize can in such a case be reserved until the following year, and this statute was then applied. Albert Lutuli therefore received his Nobel Prize for 1 -
Sharpville Massacre
The Sharpeville Massacre occurred on 21 March 1960, at the police station in the South African township of Sharpeville in the Transvaal (today part of Gauteng). After a day of demonstrations, at which a crowd of black protesters far outnumbered the police, the South African police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69 people. Sources disagree as to the behaviour of the crowd; some state that the crowd were peaceful, while others state that the crowd had been hurling stones at the police, and t -
The Soweto Uprising
The Soweto Uprising, also known as June 16, was a series of high school student-led protests in South Africa that began on the morning of June 16, 1976. Students from numerous Sowetan schools began to protest in the streets of Soweto, in response to the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in local schools.[1] An estimated 20 000 students took part in the protests, and roughly 176 people were killed.[2] The 16th of June is now a public holiday, Youth Day, in South Africa. -
Steve Biko dies in police custody
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 the Nobel Peace Prize
Desmond Tutu received the 1984 Nobel peace prize for his nonviolent work against apartheid, the South African government's policy of racial separateness.
He wanted:
1. Equal civil rights for all
2. The abolition of South Africa's pasport laws.
3. A common sysem of education
4. To end the forced deportation from South Africa to so-called "homelands" (bantusans) -
Nelson Mandela released from prison
Leading anti-apartheid campaigner Nelson Mandela has been freed from prison in South Africa after 27 years.
His release follows the relaxation of apartheid laws - including lifting the ban on leading black rights party the African National Congress (ANC) - by South African President FW de Klerk.
Mr Mandela appeared at the gates of Victor-Verster Prison in Paarl at 1614 local time - an hour late - with his wife Winnie.
Holding her hand and dressed in a light brown suit and tie he smiled. -
Nelson Mandela becomes first black president
1994: Mandela becomes SA's first black president
Nelson Mandela has become South Africa's first black president after more than three centuries of white rule.
Mr Mandela's African National Congress (ANC) party won 252 of the 400 seats in the first democratic elections of South Africa's history.
The inauguration ceremony took place in the Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria today, attended by politicians and dignitaries from more than 140 countries around the world.
