Pixley ka Isaka Seme Timeline 1881-1951

Pixley ka Isaka Seme Life Timeline

1881

1 October, Pixley ka Isaka Seme is born in Natal.

1906

Seme presents his speech at Columbia University on “The Regeneration of Africa” which wins him the University’s highest oratorical accolade, the George William Curtis medal.

April, Seme graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree from at Columbia University.

September, Seme is admitted to Jesus College in Oxford in England where begins studying for a law degree.  

1909

Seme follows deliberations on the Union of South Africa Bill (1909), which proposes a framework for the establishment of the Union of South Africa while he is in London.

June, Seme obtains a Bachelor's degree in Civil Law and passes his first bar examinations.

1910

Seme is called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in London.

Seme returns to South Africa and sets up a private practice in Johannesburg. He goes into a partnership with Alfred Mangena.

1912

8 January, Pixley Seme, Alfred Mangena and two other lawyers educated abroad, Richard Msimangand George Montsioa, call for a convention of Africans to form the South African Native National Congress(SANNC).

Bantu/Batho (people) a newspaper that serves a mouthpiece for the SANNC is established by Seme and launched in Johannesburg.

22 March, An article on the South African Native National Congress authored by Seme appears on the Natal newspaper ILanga Lase Natal.

1913

Seme establishes the South African Native Farmers Association, which bought the Daggakraal and Driefontein farms in the Wakkerstroom district in Transvaal.

1926

Seme travels with the Swazi king, Sobhuza II to England to appeal a land dispute against South Africa. He represents the King before the Privy Council.

1928

February, another newspaper, Ikwezi le Africa (the morning star of Africa) is established by Seme.

1930

Seme is elected President-General of the ANC at its annual congress replacing Josiah Tshangana Gumede by a vote of 39 to 14.

1931

July, Abantu/Batho ceases publication.  

1932

Opponents of Seme within the ANC accuse him of ‘culpable inertia' in 1932 and criticize his autocratic and cautious leadership style.

1933

May, Seme delivers his presidential address at the 21st General Annual Conference of the African National Congress.

1935

Seme joins Professor D.D.T. Jabavuin convening the first meeting of the All African Convention(AAC) in Bloemfontein. He later turns against the AAC.

1937

Seme is ousted as president of the ANC and is replaced by Zaccheus Richard Mahabane.

1940s

Seme is elected by Alfred Bitini Xumato serve as 'secretary for the chiefs' in Xuma’s first national executive committee.

1943

Seme serves as a member of the African Claims Committee.

Seme works as an attorney with offices in downtown Johannesburg. Anton M Lemdedethe first president of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) is articled to him as a law clerk.

1946

Lembede and Seme become partners in their legal practice.

1951

7 June, Seme dies in Johannesburg.