South Africa's ANC celebrates 100th anniversary

ANC celebrations will be without Nelson Mandela.

South Africa’s ANC celebrates 100th anniversary
Funke Atohengbe, Bloemfontein

South African President, Jacob Zuma, has paid tribute to African nations who stood by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) during the struggle against apartheid.

President Zuma was speaking at the Centenary celebrations of the ANC in Bloemfontein, Free State Province.

He said many African nations made sacrifices and gave selflessly towards the dethronement of the minority apartheid regime which subjected the majority blacks to racial discrimination.

The President said since the enthronement of majority rule, which saw the election of Nelson Mandela as the first black President, South Africa has continued to build on the legacies of its founding fathers.

He said freedom did not come cheap as many paid with their blood both on the battle field and through death sentences under the repressive apartheid regime.

In his words, “this occasion also enables us to pay our respect to the 134 South African patriots who paid the ultimate prize for freedom when they were executive by the apartheid regime in Pretoria.

“Our freedom was definitely not free. It was achieved through the blood, sweat and tears of many selfless revolutionaries and cadres of our movement.”

The Centenary celebrations was attended by several African leaders and top officials from all over the world including a former Democratic Presidential Candidate in the United States, Reverend Jesse Jackson, former Presidents of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda and that of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings.

Nigeria’s delegation was led by the Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

The ANC was formed at the Wesleyan Church in Bloemfontein on the 8th of January 1912.

The first Leader of the Movement was Reverend John Dube.

BBC/Williams/Ugo