In 1955 , the Congress of the People officially adopted the Freedom Charter , stating the core principles of the South African Congress Alliance , which consisted of the African National Congress and its allies the South African Communist Party ( SACP ) , the South African Indian Congress , the South African Congress of Democrats ( COD ) and the Coloured People 's Congress . The government claimed that this was a communist document , and consequently leaders of the ANC and Congress were arrested . 1960 saw the Sharpeville massacre , in which 69 people were killed when police opened fire on anti-apartheid protesters
Sharpeville massacre
Sharpeville massacre
African National Congress