The leader of the ANC (African National Congress) during the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa was Nelson Mandela. Mandela became a prominent figure in the struggle against apartheid, advocating for racial equality and human rights. After joining the ANC in 1944, he helped form the ANC Youth League and increasingly took on leadership roles, advocating for both peaceful protest and, as circumstances changed, armed resistance. In 1962, Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for his anti-apartheid activities but remained a symbol of resistance. Upon his release in 1990, he played a crucial role in negotiating the end of apartheid and was elected as South Africa’s first black president in 1994.