On Wednesday, the African National Congress (ANC) marks its 113th anniversary, and former journalist and author Leslie Mofokeng, Sol Plaatje scholar and Wits University journalism lecturer, will highlight the activist's contribution as part of the anniversary celebrations. He said: Like Sol Plaatje, it must not go to waste.
Sol Plaatje was a founding member and first general secretary of the South African Indigenous National Congress (SANNC). It then became the African National Congress in 1923 and is now one of the oldest liberation organizations fighting for freedom and justice.
Plaatje also held many roles as a teacher, court interpreter, and novelist. Mr Mofokeng says Pratier is championing the rights of black people.
“Interestingly, in December 1911 a conference was held in Nancefield, Johannesburg, and Sol Plaatje himself proposed January as the founding date of the then South African Native National Congress. One of the people who came up against it under the name of the National Assembly of Indigenous Peoples and suggested that it should be given an African name was Imbizo Yabantu.
Plaatje was born in the Free State in 1877 and moved to the Kimberley, where he worked as a postman. One political analyst says Plaatje should be remembered as someone who fought for social justice.
“The ANC is celebrating its 113th anniversary thanks to the foundation built by Sol Plaatje, a political heavyweight who played a key role in the formation of the ANC to fight for social justice,” said political commentator Setsulego Matebesi. says the doctor.
Meanwhile, some Kimberley residents are wishing the ANC success as it marks its 10th anniversary.
“The ANC has done so much for the people of South Africa. Thank you to the ANC. Let's continue to work to change the lives of South Africans. We don't want to go back to the apartheid era. ” said resident Sina Fernando.
“They have achieved a lot in South Africa. We are grateful for what they have done,” said Lebogang Fumanpe, another resident.
“I have children here. I have a South African ID. It's the ANC's fault. I managed to get an ID in 1994 and was able to vote,” said resident Antonio Fernando. I say.
As the ANC celebrates its 113th anniversary, it faces the huge challenge of gathering votes for the 2026 local government elections.
Video: ANC's January 8 statement – 'The ANC is the oldest liberation movement and is under threat'
