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.