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.’]
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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