Tens of thousands of people gathered Sunday at a rugby stadium in the South African city of Bloemfontein to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ruling African National Congress.

The mass event, which features an address by ANC leader and South African President Jacob Zuma, wraps up a series of weekend festivities marking the founding of the continent's oldest liberation movement.

Earlier, at midnight, President Zuma lit a centenary torch at the Bloemfontein church where black intellectuals and activists founded the party on January 8, 1912.

Dozens of leaders from other African countries have joined in the recognition of the ANC, which Nelson Mandela led to power after the fall of apartheid.

Mr. Mandela has not attended the commemorations due to increasing frailty.

The ANC was born out of the desire and will to fight discrimination, and its struggle led to the end of South Africa's white minority rule in 1994.

Nelson Mandela became the country's first black president.