LEAD: Thousands celebrate centenary of South Africa's ANC

Jan 8, 2012, 16:51 GMT

Johannesburg - Some 100,000 people on Sunday celebrated the centenary of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC), the movement that led the struggle of blacks against white minority rule and eventually brought down apartheid 18 years ago.

'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, and are building in its ruins, a free, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa together,' said South African President and ANC leader Jacob Zuma.

Roads in Bloemfontein were dotted with the yellow, green and black flags of the ANC, Africa's oldest liberation movement, which came to power in April 1994 under the leadership of Nelson Mandela in the first democratic election after the fall of apartheid the same year.

'South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people,' Zuma said, stressing the democratic values for which his party stands.

Huge posters of Mandela were erected at the stadium in the central city of Bloemfontein, where thousands of people danced, sang and waved ANC flags in celebration. Many wore black, green or yellow shirts emblazoned with the mottos: '100 years of selfless struggle' or 'Vote ANC.'

Mandela did not attend the ceremony. The 93-year-old former president is too frail to travel.

The celebrations were overshadowed by rising criticism of the ANC, which has been in power since 1994, for failing to alleviate poverty and implement economic reform.

'South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people,' Zuma said.

He announced that the party now numbered 1,027,389 members, drawing jubilations from the crowd.

In a letter to Zuma, British Prime Minister David Cameron hailed the ANC as a 'beacon for the world' in the fight against discrimination and oppression.

'On behalf of the British people, I want to congratulate you and everyone involved with the African National Congress on this very special anniversary,' Cameron wrote.