Thirty-five years ago today, on February 2, 1990 (January 7, 1990 in the lunar calendar), South African President de Klerk announced the lifting of the 30-year ban on the ANC. South African President de Klerk and ANC President Mandela The African National Congress of South Africa (ANC) The party was founded in 1912, when it was called the National Congress of Indigenous People of South Africa, and changed its current name in 1925. It now has about 700,000 members. In March 1960, the ANC was declared an "illegal organization" by the South African authorities after the "Sharpeville incident" against the "Pass Law", with its main leaders in exile and domestic organizations going underground. In 1961, the ANC decided to engage in armed struggle and established a military organization - "Spear of the Nation" in December of that year, with Mandela as its commander. In 1962, Mandela and others were arrested and imprisoned. Since 1989, the ANC has gradually adjusted its struggle strategy, advocating a political solution to the South African problem and flexible handling of constitutional negotiations. On February 2, 1990, South African President de Klerk announced the lifting of the 30-year ban on the ANC. In April 1994, the ANC won South Africa's first non-racial general election and became the ruling party. The current party chairperson is Mbeki.