ANC’s centenary celebration a tryst with history – VP Faure |12 January 2012

“It was a momentous occasion and a tryst with history as we relived, through recollections, the past 100 years of the ANC, and projected ourselves, through the vision spelled out by President Jacob Zuma, into the bright future of the Africa’s oldest political party,” VP Faure said.

The Vice-President also said the celebrations of the centenary were “a meeting of spirits and minds”. He explained that the ANC’s political struggle was a success because of the determination of its past leaders like Oliver Tambo and the solidarity of other African leaders like Tanzanian Julius Nyerere – present at the celebrations in spirit – and the able leadership of people like Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, who contributed to the struggle through great ideas.

ANC’s centenary celebrations were held in Bloemfontein where the movement was founded as the South African Native National Congress on January 8, 1912.

The highlights of the celebrations were a gala dinner held on Saturday January 7, the lighting of a flame by ANC and South African President Jacob Zuma at midnight that same day in Waaihoek Church where the ANC was founded and a mass rally at the Free State Stadium where Mr Zuma delivered a stump speech.

VP Faure was accompanied by Seychelles high commissioner in South Africa, Joseph Nourrice, and Ralph Agrippine, director of policy and research in Parti Lepep’s headquarters.