Freedom Fighters and Protests
As Apartheid legislation continued to pass in South Africa, the disenfranchised Black Africans began to rail against the unfair and often unsafe living conditions to which they had been relegated. The African National Congress (ANC) was founded in the early 1920's in order to increase the rights of the Black South African population. Nelson Mandela, arguably its most notable member, gained attention in the 1950's. He was part of a group pushing to make the ANC a national movement. Initially, the group staged non-violent protests. Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1952 and was in and out of jail during the 1950's.
The South African government banned the ANC in 1960 by the The Unlawful Organisations Act No 34 of 1960. This ban remained in effect until 1990. This caused the organization of the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), and began the use of violent protest in the war against Apartheid. The motto of the MK was to "hit back by all means within our power in defence of our people, our future and our freedom". Mandela was a major force in the formation of the MK, but was arrested in 1962 after he left the country to speak on the situation in South Africa. He was imprisoned for the next 28 years. The violent protests against Apartheid continued with the death of 600 people in the Soweto protest for improved education. Activist Steve Bilko was arrested and killed, reportedly by a beating from police officers. The protests reach their peak in the late 1980's.
The South African government banned the ANC in 1960 by the The Unlawful Organisations Act No 34 of 1960. This ban remained in effect until 1990. This caused the organization of the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), and began the use of violent protest in the war against Apartheid. The motto of the MK was to "hit back by all means within our power in defence of our people, our future and our freedom". Mandela was a major force in the formation of the MK, but was arrested in 1962 after he left the country to speak on the situation in South Africa. He was imprisoned for the next 28 years. The violent protests against Apartheid continued with the death of 600 people in the Soweto protest for improved education. Activist Steve Bilko was arrested and killed, reportedly by a beating from police officers. The protests reach their peak in the late 1980's.