Alfred batini xuma biography

Alfred Bitini Xuma, OLG, commonly referred to by his initials as AB Xuma^[1][2] (8 March 1893 – 27 January 1962),^[3][4] was the first black South African to become a medical doctor, as well as a leader, activist and president-general of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1940 to 1949.^[5] He was a member of the African American founded Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.^[6]

Life

Although on the left wing of the ANC, Xuma was seen during his leadership as too conservative by an increasingly impatient and activist youth, which he regarded in turn with suspicion.

(His letters to colleagues are understood to be full of hostile references to communists.) As such, he was widely regarded as out of touch with the needs and demands of the grassroots.^[7]

Nevertheless, it was under his leadership, albeit after having been very cannily lobbied, and in spite of warnings from his colleagues that