2006 Celebrating 60 years

"South Africa observes 60 years of A.A. held in Johannesburg in November. The event is marked with a mini rally with over 300 people in attendance. A banner at the front of the main stage boldly spells out the theme of the event "From Darkness into Light - AA in SA 1946 -2006." Among the items on display is a 1947 Big Book owned by Solomon M., who was among the first to help start A.A. in South Africa."

(AAWS Inc)

2003 Progress in Sub-Saharan Africa

"In June 2003, the first Sub-Saharan Africa Service Meeting is held at the Willow Park Conference Centre (right) near Johannesburg, South Africa. Present are two delegates each from Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, along with representatives from the General Service Offices of Great Britain and U.S./Canada. This zonal meeting is part of the Into Africa initiative, launched by A.A. South Africa in 2000 to improve cooperation with professionals and overcome the problem of A.A. literature distribution in a region with more than 250 languages. A delegate later reports that "Saturday night's family style dinner was filled with laughter and sharing as we expressed our joy in a long day of intense work.""

(AAWS Inc)

1946 Roads into Africa

"In 1946, the A.A. movement springs to life in South Africa in three different places. The founders, unknown to one another, are: Arthur S., who reads of A.A. in Reader's Digest, contacts the Alcoholic Foundation and forms a group in Johannesburg; Pat O'F., of Capetown, who also has consulted the Alcoholic Foundation; and Val D., who achieves sobriety after reading a copy of the Big Book handed to him by a priest and soon starts a group in the town of Springs."

(AAWS Inc)