Apartheid South Africa: Key actors/ groups

Key Apartheid South Africa: Actors and Groups

African National Congress (ANC): Founded in 1912, the ANC aimed to bring all Africans together as one people to defend their rights and freedoms. Key figures included Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, who advocated for non-violent mass protests.
Nelson Mandela: The face of the anti-apartheid resistance. Mandela was initially committed to peaceful protest but later advocated armed resistance. Arrested and jailed in 1963, his imprisonment became a rallying cry for those opposed to apartheid.
Walter Sisulu: An anti-apartheid activist and senior ANC member. As a close friend and mentor to Nelson Mandela, his role was crucial in shaping the ANC’s resistance to apartheid.
Hendrik Verwoerd: Known as the architect of apartheid, Verwoerd served as Prime Minister from 1958 to 1966. His government implemented harsh and repressive measures to enforce racial segregation.
Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC): Created in 1959 by ANC members disappointed with the organization’s multiracial approach. Advocated African nationalism and was behind the Sharpeville protest in 1960 that led to a brutal massacre by police.
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP): A Zulu-nationalistic party led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, which often clashed with the ANC due to differing views on how to challenge apartheid.
Sharpeville Six: Six individuals sentenced to death for their supposed involvement in the killing of a local councilor during a demonstration. Their case drew international attention and criticism of apartheid’s legal injustices.
Black Consciousness Movement (BCM): Led by Steve Biko, this student-led movement emphasised black pride and self-reliance. It was instrumental in empowering black South Africans and fostering a sense of shared identity in the struggle against apartheid.
Steve Biko: An anti-apartheid activist and one of the most influential student leaders of the BCM. His philosophy centred on psychological liberation and he was notorious for his saying, “black is beautiful”. His death in police custody helped to galvanise international protest against apartheid.