ANC, noun1

Forms:
Also A.N.C.
Origin:
Initial letters of African National Congress.
South Africa’s oldest and largest nationalist organization, founded in Bloemfontein in 1912 as the South African Native National Congress, and renamed the African National Congress in 1923; also called Congress (sense 1). Also attributive.
Note:
The ANC’s stated aims include the fostering of a broad, non-ethnic nationalism and the establishment of a democratic political system. In 1956 the Freedom Charter was formally adopted as the organization’s manifesto. Banned from April 1960 to February 1990, and with its leadership in exile, the ANC used armed resistance as part of its strategy from 1961: see Umkhonto we Sizwe. The organization became the majority party in the Government of National Unity in 1994.
[1923 Resolution of Annual Conference in Karis & Carter From Protest to Challenge (1972) I. 298It is resolved that the South African Native National Congress shall henceforth be known and described for all intents and purposes as ‘The African National Congress.’]
1952 Rand Daily Mail 27 Nov. 12The recommendations were adopted by the conference of the A.N.C. and S.A.I.C., and the course of action followed during the defiance campaign was mainly that prescribed in these recommendations.
1958 Rand Daily Mail 15 Apr. 1A.N.C. calls off ‘stay home’ protest. The African National Congress called last night on all its supporters..to return to their jobs to-day.
1962 A.J. Luthuli Let my People Go 89It was originally called the South African Native National Congress. I shall refer to it here..as ‘Congress’, or as the A.N.C.
1967 P.C. Pelser in Hansard 1 June 7024These terrorists who are returning now are to a great extent the fruits of the undermining activities of the A.N.C., the P.A.C., S.W.A.P.O. and the communists.
1969 M. Benson At Still Point 103Then she said, ‘The A.N.C. has a new plan. We must use violence to achieve our freedom. It is the only way!’
1970 Rand Daily Mail 1 Oct. 7On hearing the sentence, he..gave the clenched fist salute of the A.N.C.
1977 Rhodeo (Rhodes Univ.) 30 Sept. 7Both the ANC and the PAC were banned as from April 1960 under the specially-introduced Unlawful Organizations Act, and from then on a pattern of revolutionary violence began to emerge.
1982 D. Tutu Voice of One 20The main opposition party in South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC), moved away from non-violent strategy in 1961, after the Sharpeville massacre.
1986 M. Du Preez in Sunday Times 12 Jan. 18Seventy-four years after its founding, 25 years since opting for the armed struggle, the ANC this week promised to turn more ploughshares into swords for what it believes is the last great assault against white nationalism.
1987 E. Prov. Herald 25 Apr. 1The African National Congress would seize any opportunity for ‘a negotiated resolution of the conflict in our country’, the president of the ANC, Mr Oliver Tambo, is quoted as saying.
1988 C.A. Mokoena in Inside S. Afr. June 8Is there any difference between the ANC and AWB? The only difference is, the one is white, the other black.
1990 G. Slovo Ties of Blood 223In the end it had been inevitable that she would join the Party. Most Africans of her age were in the ANC but since whites were not admitted that option was closed to her.
1990 P. Cull in E. Prov. Herald 3 Feb.State President F.W. de Klerk threw down the gauntlet yesterday, unbanning the ANC, PAC and South African Communist Party.
1990 Weekly Mail 21 Sept. 7Since February the ANC, an organisation geared to opposition, has had to start grappling with the reality of power or potential power.
South Africa’s oldest and largest nationalist organization, founded in Bloemfontein in 1912 as the South African Native National Congress, and renamed the African National Congress in 1923; also called Congress (sense 1). Also attributive.
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