African nationalism, 1948-59: Political opposition in 1948

• African National Congress (ANC)

  The main African opposition was led by the African National Congress (ANC). This had been formed in 1912 by a middle-class elite and had concentrated on debate and argument. However, it always supported campaigns to improve the lives of African people and did attract grassroots (local) support.
• The revival of the ANC

  From 1940, under the leadership of Alfred Xuma, the ANC began to work more closely with other organisations such as the South African Indian Congress to develop a policy of non-cooperation involving civil disobedience. The ANC seemed to follow rather than lead developments in the struggle against apartheid.