Years | Important events
in the party's history | Other important
South Africa events | Important International events |
1912 | | Launch of the ANC | |
1914 | | | First World War
A war between imperialists |
1915 | The ISL
Launch of the International Socialist League | | |
1917 | | | The Bolshevik Revolution
The world's first socialist state is born |
1919 | | ICU Launched
In a few years, it sweeps through the country | Communist International (CI) launched |
1921 | Launch of the CPSA
The first Marxist Leninist party in Africa is formed, emerging from revolutionary socialist active among white workers | | |
1922 | | Rand Revolt
The most militant white workers' strike is anti-boss- and anti-black workers! | |
1924 | Africanisation of the Party
Stalwarts such as JB Marks and Johannes Nkosi join the party | | |
1926 | | ICU expels communists
The ICU's star begins to fade | |
1927 | | JT Gumede elected ANC President
A new progressive leadership emerges | |
1928 | Emergence of African Leadership
1600 of the CPSA's 1750 members are black | | CI 6th Congress
the task of the South african communist is to transform the ANC 'into a fighting nationalist revolutionary organisation' |
1929 | Black Republic thesis
The CPSA developes a strategic line, with the assistance of the Communist International:'The most direct line of advance to soccialism runs through the mass struggle for majority rule' | | |
Early 30s | Factionalism
The CI also has negative effects:
Factionalism leads to the expulsion of veterans like SP Bunting | | |
1935 | | All African Convection
Forerunner of today's broad front politics | CI 7th congress
Dimitrov urges 'united fronts, not left-sectarianism, in the face of the fascist onslaught |
Late 30s | Non-sectarianism
A non-sectarian leadership emerges around Moses Kotane | | |
1939 | | | Second World War |
1941-5 | Stonger Structures
Strong CPSA branches are built in the townships.
Communists also play leading roles in building the Congress movement | | |
1941 | | CNETU Formed
Congress of Non-European Trade Unions launched as South Africa's manufacturing industry booms | Soviet Union invaded
Hilter's forces slaughter 20-million Soviet citizens...but are finally crushed |
1945 | | | Cold War
The anti-fascist war ends,but imperialism leads a renewed anti-communist propaganda war |
1946 | | Black miner's strike
100 000 miners strike, led by JB Marks a long standing Party member | |
1948 | | National Party elected whites-only parliament
| |
1949 | | ANC Programme of Action
The ANC moves towards a more militant, mass line | |
1950 | CPSA Banned | | |
1950s | | Years of ANC-led mass action
Defiance Campaign, Congress of the People, boycotts and national strikes
| |
1953 | SACP Launched
A new underground Party is launched | | |
Late 50s | | | African decolonisation
African countries begin to win political independence |
1959 | | PAC split
On a right-wing,anti socialist platform, Sobukwe splits from the ANC | |
1960s | | | Southern African guerilla wars
Liberation movements in Angola, Mozambique, and then Namibia and Zimbabwe launch armed struggles |
1960 | | ANC banned | |
1961 | | Armed Struggle
On December 16, Umkhonto we Sizwe is launched | |
1962 | Road to Freedom
At an underground conference,the
SACP adopts a new programme | | |
Mid 60s | Repression
Hundreds of communists are jailed. Some, like Vuyisile Mini, are sent to the gallows | | |
1967 | | Wankie and Sipolilo campaigns
With ZIPRA comrades, MK combatants fight Zimbabwe | |
1969 | | ANC Morogoro Conference | |
1970 | Augmented Central Committee
The SACP reviews 9 years of armed struggle and concludeds:' Armed struggle without mass mobilisation and organisation will lead nowwhere' | | These struggles result in ...... |
1971 | Internal reconstruction
The Party rebuilds its clandestine structures.
Inkululeko appears - a voice from ther underground | | |
1973 | | Durban strikes
A new era of trade unionism begins | |
Mid 70s | | | Independence for Mozambique for Mozambique and Angola
and...... |
1976/7 | | Uprisings
The start of 15 years of semi insurrectionary struggles | |
1980 | | | Independence for Zimbabwe |
1896 | 65th Anniversary
Inspired by the growth of a powerful union movement, the SACP reasserts a more independent profile | | Perestroika/glasnost
Faced with an economic crisis, the Soviet Union begins a struggle to re-connect socialism with its democratic roots |
1989 | 7th Party Congress
A new Party programme is adopted | | |
1990 | Relaunch
The SACP is unbanned, and relaunched at a mass rally in Soweto | 1989 COSATU Launched
| |
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