📅 2 April 1944
A younger generation formed the Youth League to press the ANC toward mass action and African nationalism. Its founders included Anton Lembede, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo.
📅 17 December 1949
The programme called for boycotts, strikes, civil disobedience and non-cooperation. It marked a shift from petitions toward mass mobilization against white minority rule.
📅 1 May 1950
The ANC, Communist Party and trade unions called workers to stay home for political rights and against repression. Police killed at least eighteen people in clashes on the Witwatersrand.
📅 6 April 1952
While the state celebrated three centuries of white settlement, the ANC and SAIC held mass meetings and called for defiance of six discriminatory laws.
📅 22 June 1952
Thousands attended the Day of the Volunteers shortly before civil disobedience began. Participants committed themselves to disciplined, nonviolent defiance of apartheid laws.
📅 26 June 1952
Multiracial groups deliberately violated curfews, pass laws and segregation regulations. More than 8,000 volunteers were arrested during the country's largest civil-disobedience campaign to that date.
📅 30 July 1952
Authorities arrested campaign leaders under the Suppression of Communism Act in an attempt to disrupt the expanding civil-disobedience movement.
📅 2 December 1952
Twenty campaign leaders were convicted under the Suppression of Communism Act and received suspended prison sentences. Repression intensified but the campaign greatly expanded ANC membership.
📅 9 February 1955
Armed police supervised the removal of families from the multiracial Johannesburg neighbourhood to racially designated areas. Homes were demolished under the Group Areas Act.
📅 25 June 1955
Nearly 3,000 delegates and observers gathered to debate demands collected from communities across South Africa for a democratic and nonracial future.
📅 26 June 1955
Delegates adopted a programme declaring that South Africa belonged to all who lived in it and demanding democratic government, equal rights, land reform and social welfare.
📅 5 December 1956
Police raids across the country led to the arrest of 156 activists of different racial backgrounds. The resulting Treason Trial attempted to criminalize the Freedom Charter movement.
📅 14 March 1960
After years of prosecution, defence lawyers began presenting the case for the activists accused of plotting to overthrow the state. The proceedings had already imposed heavy costs on the Congress...
📅 28 March 1960
The ANC called a national strike and day of mourning. Albert Luthuli and Nelson Mandela publicly burned their passbooks as communities protested police killings and pass laws.
📅 7 October 1960
Bram Fischer completed the defence case for the remaining accused, bringing the long political prosecution closer to judgment.
📅 25 March 1961
About 1,400 delegates from many bodies demanded a national convention elected by all adults. Nelson Mandela was chosen to coordinate action through the National Action Council.
📅 29 March 1961
After a trial lasting more than four years, the remaining defendants were found not guilty. The judgment was a major defeat for the state's attempt to criminalize the Congress movement.
📅 29 May 1961
The ANC-organized action opposed the establishment of a white republic without democratic participation by the Black majority. Large numbers of workers stayed home despite intimidation.
📅 31 May 1961
South Africa became a republic and left the Commonwealth. A nationwide stay-at-home challenged a constitutional change made without consent of the Black majority.
📅 16 December 1961
After peaceful political activity was outlawed and repressed, MK announced itself through attacks on state installations. Its early strategy sought to avoid loss of life.
📅 5 August 1962
Police captured Mandela after seventeen months underground. He had organized resistance and travelled abroad to seek political and military support.
📅 7 November 1962
Mandela was punished for inciting the 1961 stay-at-home and leaving South Africa without a passport. He used the trial to challenge the legitimacy of white minority rule.
📅 9 October 1963
Eleven defendants were charged with sabotage and conspiracy following the Liliesleaf raid. The political trial threatened the accused with the death penalty.
📅 4 March 1964
After months of evidence, the prosecution completed its case. The defendants then prepared to explain their political aims and resistance to apartheid.
📅 20 April 1964
Speaking from the dock, Mandela described the struggle against white and Black domination and defended the goal of a democratic and free society.
📅 12 June 1964
Eight defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment rather than death. Their removal weakened internal structures but made the trial a worldwide symbol of resistance.
📅 31 March 1982
Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Raymond Mhlaba and Andrew Mlangeni were moved from Robben Island, partly as the state began considering political contacts.
📅 10 February 1985
At a Soweto rally she read Nelson Mandela's refusal to accept release in exchange for renouncing resistance while the government continued violence against the people.
📅 11 June 1988
The Wembley concert reached a worldwide television audience and transformed the demand to free Mandela into a global popular campaign.
📅 7 December 1988
The transfer placed Mandela in a house on prison grounds and facilitated increasingly direct talks with government representatives.
📅 2 February 1990
De Klerk announced the unbanning of the ANC, PAC and SACP, the release of political prisoners and the opening of a negotiated transition.
📅 10 February 1990
The president confirmed that Mandela would leave prison the following day without renouncing the liberation struggle.
📅 11 February 1990
Mandela walked free from Victor Verster Prison after twenty-seven years and addressed a mass rally in Cape Town, affirming democratic struggle and negotiation.
📅 2 May 1990
Their first formal talks committed both sides to address political prisoners, exiles and security laws obstructing negotiations.
📅 6 August 1990
The government agreed to address remaining obstacles to negotiation, while the ANC announced suspension of armed actions to advance a political settlement.
📅 16 August 1990
The leaders met as attacks spread to Soweto after armed hostel residents assaulted train passengers, threatening the negotiation process.
📅 20 September 1990
Leaders met in Durban and issued a joint statement seeking ways to end violence in Natal and the Reef townships.
📅 8 October 1990
After a Mandela-De Klerk meeting, the government announced that about 20,000 exiles could come home, reversing a major consequence of repression.
📅 14 December 1990
Delegates demanded removal of obstacles to negotiation, retained sanctions pressure and called 1991 a year of mass action.
📅 28 January 1991
The movement gave De Klerk a list of officers it believed had participated in township attacks, making state accountability central to negotiations.
📅 29 January 1991
The Durban summit called for political tolerance and effective peacekeeping after severe conflict between supporters of the two movements.
📅 12 February 1991
The accord affirmed peaceful protest and specified steps for suspending armed action while negotiations advanced.
📅 15 April 1991
The two liberation movements discussed cooperation under mediation by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
📅 2 July 1991
Delegates rebuilt the legal mass organization and prepared it for negotiations and electoral politics.
📅 5 July 1991
Mandela succeeded Oliver Tambo, while Walter Sisulu became deputy president and Cyril Ramaphosa secretary-general.
📅 22 July 1991
After revelations of secret state funding for Inkatha, the ANC called for ministers to resign and covert counter-insurgency structures to be dismantled.
📅 14 September 1991
Parties, unions, religious bodies and civic organizations agreed to codes of conduct and monitoring mechanisms intended to reduce political violence.
📅 26 October 1991
Dozens of anti-apartheid organizations called for an elected constituent assembly and an interim government to manage the transition.
📅 20 December 1991
Political organizations and international observers gathered for the first broad multiparty constitutional convention.
📅 21 December 1991
Most participating parties committed themselves to democracy, constitutional government and a peaceful transition.
📅 8 January 1992
At its eightieth anniversary, the organization presented post-apartheid policies and began preparing supporters for democratic elections.
📅 16 June 1992
Rallies and work stoppages demanded an interim government and an elected constituent assembly.
📅 21 June 1992
Mandela withdrew from formal talks, demanding action against violence and evidence of state involvement.
📅 3 August 1992
The Tripartite Alliance used mass action to demand an interim government, majority rule and effective measures against political violence.
📅 26 August 1992
The meeting sought a way out of the post-Boipatong deadlock and prepared the ground for renewed constitutional negotiations.
📅 21 September 1992
At a peace summit, the leaders reopened the path to constitutional talks after Boipatong and Bisho.
📅 26 September 1992
The agreement addressed political prisoners, hostels, dangerous weapons, an elected constituent assembly and mechanisms to overcome deadlock.
📅 13 April 1993
In a nationally televised appeal, Mandela called for unity, discipline and rejection of racial revenge.
📅 19 April 1993
More than 150,000 mourners gathered at FNB Stadium, demonstrating Hani's popularity and public determination to complete the transition.
📅 15 October 1993
The joint award recognized their roles in negotiating an end to apartheid, while many South Africans continued debating responsibility and compromise.
📅 21 January 1994
The RDP connected political democracy with housing, services, jobs, land reform and social transformation.
📅 15 March 1994
The manifesto presented the RDP and promised democratic government, equality and reconstruction after apartheid.
📅 28 March 1994
ANC security guards fired during an IFP march near ANC headquarters, killing marchers amid intense pre-election violence and disputed accounts.
📅 31 March 1994
De Klerk imposed emergency rule to curb escalating violence and protect the forthcoming election.
📅 19 April 1994
A last-minute agreement brought Inkatha onto the ballot, reducing the danger that KwaZulu-Natal would be excluded from the democratic vote.
📅 27 April 1994
For the first time, adult citizens of every racial classification voted together for a national government after centuries of colonialism and apartheid.
📅 2 May 1994
With about 62.6 percent of the vote, the ANC became the leading party in a Government of National Unity.
📅 9 May 1994
The newly elected democratic parliament chose Mandela as president, with Thabo Mbeki and F. W. de Klerk as deputy presidents.
📅 10 May 1994
The inauguration at the Union Buildings marked the formal end of white minority government and the creation of a Government of National Unity.
