While living in Johannesburg, he joined African National Congress and laid foundation for his Youth League. His first step towards eminence came in 1948 with Afrikaner nationalists of the Nationalist party hitting power and bringing the policy of Apartheid in effect. Defiance Campaign launched by the ANC in 1952 set a platform for Mandela. He was not only elected as the President of Transvaal ANC Branch but also at looked after the 1955 Congress of the People.