FACTBOX-History of the African National Congress

(Reuters) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress chooses its new leader during a December 16-20 congress.

ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma has taken a commanding lead over party and state President Thabo Mbeki. If Zuma wins he is highly likely to become South Africa's next president in 2009.

Here are some main facts about the ruling ANC.

* ORIGINS:

-- In January 1912 the South African Native National Congress was formed in the central city of Bloemfontein in response to legislation denying political rights to the black population.

-- It changed its name to the African National Congress in 1923. Its early leaders, black professionals, wanted a gradual extension of the electoral franchise on the British model. The party failed to moderate the race policies of successive white governments.

* APARTHEID:

-- The white Afrikaner National Party's electoral victory in 1948 heralded the systematic racial discrimination of apartheid, prompting young radicals like Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu to take over the leadership of the ANC.

-- The ANC backed the first systematic campaign against the government in 1952, when thousands of blacks were arrested for defying discriminatory laws. It organized the 1955 "Congress of the People" which adopted the Freedom Charter, calling for a non-racial democracy.