The leader of the African National Congress (ANC) who worked against apartheid in South Africa was Nelson Mandela. Mandela became a prominent figure in the struggle against racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa and was arrested in 1962 for his activism. After spending 27 years in prison, he was released in 1990, and his leadership helped to galvanize international opposition to apartheid. Mandela played a key role in negotiating the end of apartheid, leading to multiracial elections in 1994, where he became South Africa's first Black president. His legacy embodies the fight for equality and justice.