The African National Congress (ANC) was banned on this day in 1960. In 1912, the ANC emerged as South Africa’s governing party with a founding aim to secure equal rights for non-whites.
In response to the onset of segregation in 1913, the ANC adopted strategies to confront discriminatory policies. Notably, Nelson Mandela, among other members, spearheaded the creation of the Youth League, advocating for more assertive measures against apartheid.
By 1960, tensions mounted, leading to the tragic Sharpeville Massacre, where 69 protesters lost their lives at the hands of South African police. Consequently, both the ANC and the Pan-African Congress were banned by the government on April 8, 1960. Mandela faced arrest and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Over time, the organization garnered international support, resulting in its legalization in South Africa in February 1990. The apartheid regime finally crumbled in 1993, and Mandela, upon his release, became president in 1994.
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