Chronology
January 1912. ANC founded
1914. Afrikaner National Party formed
July 1921. Communist Party of South Africa formed
1943. The word apartheid appears for the first time
1948. National Party elected to whites-only parliament
1949. Mixed marriages declared illegal
1950. CPSA banned
1952. ANC organises passive resistance to pass laws
1953. South African Communist Party formed as an underground organisation
June 1955. Freedom Charter endorsed
March 1960. Sharpeville massacre
April 1960. ANC and PAC banned
December 1961. Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) formed as ANC armed wing
1961. South Africa becomes a republic and leaves Commonwealth
August 1962. Nelson Mandela arrested
July 1963. Majority of ANC leadership arrested
December 1963. Rivonia trial of ANC leaders begins
July 1967. ANC president Albert Lithuli assassinated
June 1976. Soweto massacre (now ANC Youth Day)
September 1976. Steve Biko murdered by police
June 1983. United Democratic Front formed
1986. COSATU (trade union congress) launched
February 1990. Nelson Mandela released from jail after 27 years; liberation organisations unbanned
October 1991. ANC Youth League relaunched
April 1993 ANC/SACP leader Chris Hani assassinated
April 1993. ANC president Oliver Tambo dies
April 1994. First democratic elections; ANC wins big majority