Integrating Poor Populations in South African Cities - Agence ...

Urban Development
Policies in a Unique
Political and
Institutional Context
3
3.1. A Political Situation in the Hands of the African National
Congress
South African political life, heavily marked by the history of apartheid, is entirely
dominated by the African National Congress (ANC) party.
3.1.1. The ANC’s Predominance
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Historical Importance
The ANC is a political party born in 1912 following the creation of the Union of South
Africa; it represented the different African peoples in the face of white power. Nelson
Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Olivier Tambo founded the ANC Youth League in 1944,
and counted on the power of demonstration to bring change to the political government.
After the National Party took power and apartheid was established, the ANC frequently
joined other anti-apartheid organizations to boycott the system in place. The ANC was
banned in 1960 but continued to be active from other countries (England, Tanzania then
Zambia) and carry out large sabotage operations: the ANC played a decisive role in the
uprisings in the townships. In 1990, Nelson Mandela, who had been given a life
© AFD 2009 Integrating Poor Populations in South African Cities