This month in history - Oct 1

1 October 1881 Pixley ka Seme is born

Pixley ka Isaka Seme was born on 1 October 1881 in KwaZulu-Natal. Seme was a founding member of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) in 1912, which was renamed the African National Congress (ANC) in 1923. The organisation was formed as a result of Black dissatisfaction with the South Africa Act of 1909, their treatment after the South African War, and the numerous laws being passed that controlled and restricted Black movement and work.

Seme, nephew of Chief Langalibalele Dube, was elected Treasurer-General in the first inaugural meeting of the SANNC in 1912. He was the barrister and President of the ANC from 1930 to 1936 when he was ousted by Reverend Z.R. Mahabane. Subsequent to this, circulation figures for his newspaper Abantu Batho dropped, resulting in its closure. His effort to re-launch his political career with the “All Africa Convention” was not very successful.

Seme died in Johannesburg in 1951.