Complex sentence: Initially conceived of as a South African version of Greenpeace, the group began by playing a radical, anti-apartheid, activist role, while now arguably is more of a reformist lobby or pressure group.
Split into simpler sentences: Initially conceived of as a South African version of Greenpeace, the group began by playing a radical, anti-apartheid, activist role. ELA is arguably now more of a reformist lobby or pressure group.