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AFP
President Jacob Zuma on Sunday celebrated his ruling ANC's achievement of leading South Africa into all-race freedom at a mass rally for the party's 100th anniversary.

"The ANC mobilised the South African people across the racial, gender and class divide. The ANC, a disciplined force of the left with a bias toward the poor, is also a broad church that is home to all," he said.

"Its membership and support base comprises nationalists, Marxists, Africanists, workers, capitalists, women, men, youth, rural, urban, rich and poor. This has become one of the biggest strengths of this glorious movement."

Zuma also paid tribute to the African National Congress' former leaders like Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela and the party's foreign supporters in building a free South Africa.

"The African National Congress, the oldest liberation movment on the continent, turns 100 years old today," Zuma told tens of thousands in a speech broadcast live on national television.

"We have come from all corners of South Africa, Africa and the world to celebrate this historical milestone."

"This is not only a celebration for the African National Congress and its members only. It is a joyous celebration for all the people of South Africa who with the support of the continent and the world destroyed colonial oppression and apartheid."