James Moroka
South African activist (1891–1985)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Sebe Moroka, OLG (16 March 1891 – 10 November 1985) was a medical doctor and a politician, who was the president of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1949 to 1952.[1]
16 March 1891
James Moroka | |
|---|---|
| 8th President-General of the African National Congress | |
| In office 1949–1952 | |
| Preceded by | Alfred Bitini Xuma |
| Succeeded by | Albert Luthuli |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Sebe Moroka 16 March 1891 |
| Died | 10 November 1985 (aged 94) |
| Party | African National Congress |
| Occupation |
|
Moroka was elected as the president of the ANC by the support of the African National Congress Youth League and its leaders Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela in December 1949. During Moroka's presidency, the ANC started to implement more militant tactics in fighting the country's apartheid regime.[1]
In 1952, Moroka was convicted of "statutory communism" according to the Suppression of Communism Act with 20 other defendants.[2] During the trial, Moroka realised the limitations he would have during apartheid while acting as president. He decided he could do more for his community practising medicine; he pleaded for mitigation and rejected the ANC's principles of racial equality and was soon expelled from the party.[3]
The district hospital in Thaba Nchu is named in his memory where he continued to practice medicine. He was a family-oriented Christian.
