Z. R. Mahabane

Reverend Zaccheus Richard Mahabane (15 August 1881-September 1971) was a South African Politician.He was the President of the African National Congress from 1924 to 1927 and again from 1937 to 1940. He was also a Methodist pastor.

He was born in Thaba Nchu, Orange Free State in South Africa his parents were farmers. He was very religious. He studied in Morija Mission Institute to become a teacher but quit it and became an interpreter in courts.Later he quit and joined the Lessyton Theological school. He was ordained a Methodist minister in 1914. He was first sent to Bensonvale Parish and later Cape Town.

He began his political life in Cape Town and was elected the President of the South African Native National Council of Cape Province in 1919. He was elected the President of the African National Congress from 1924 to 1927. He was opposed to communism and hence opposed J.T. Gumede. He became the President of ANC again from 1937 to 1940. He was made a Lifelong Honorary President of the ANC in 1943.

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