On this day, the 8th of January 1912, the South African Native National Congress later known as the , was formed.. At SANNC's inaugural conference, Rev. John Dube was elected as its first president in absentia. The organisation developed out of a situation of racial exclusion and discrimination under the new Union of South Africa. SANNC aspired to unite Africans in the advancement of their political and socio-economic status. As SANNC grew as a political organisation and gradually expanded its inclusivity it was renamed as the ANC in 1923. SOUND COURTESY OF THE SABC RADIO ARCHIVES.Take part on the feature every week day between 6:20 and 6:40 am on SAfm, South Africa's news and information leader, from 104 to 107 Fm

"This Day in History" is a daily feature on SAfm.

Advertisement