Bloemfontein (South Africa) Jan 6, 2012 (SPS) - South Africa declared three days of festivities for the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the creation of the African National Congress (January 8, 1912) as a stronghold for the fight against racial segregation (Apartheid).
Racial division between white minorities and non-white majorities, imposed by English and Dutch colonists, was in force in South Africa until the first general elections in 1994, which were won by ANC since then.
The festivities started with a golf tournament and the final ceremony will be on Sunday with the attendance of 100,000 people in the Bloemfontein Stadium, in a city with the same name, where ANC was born in 1912.
On Sunday, South African President Jacob Zuma will light the 100th Anniversary torch flame, and speak to the South African people in his condition as President.
Baleka Mbete, national coordinator for the celebrations, said that ANC led its militants to conquer their freedom, to take the political power, and now gives a lot of hope for the future.
There was a vigil taking place Friday, at the church where ANC was founded. In the following days, the people will be the protagonist of the traditional festivities.
More than 45 Heads of State and Government have confirmed their presence and the number grows as much as the interest the event arouses.
The ANC also expects the presence of South African outstanding apartheid fighter Nelson Mandela, who lives in Qunu (south), his native town, toward where he retired a little time before turning 93, in July.
Madiba, a honorary title as a community boss granted to Mandela by his native town, does not appear in public due to his fragile state of health.
African countries and their leaders announced their attendance to the ceremonies of the ANC, such as from Botswana, Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as the King of Lesotho.
The arrival of the president of the Palestine National Authority, Mahmud Abbas, is also expected, as well as important delegations from Russia and China, and friends from 80 political organizations of the world in solidarity with ANC.
Source: Prensa Latina