Protest and Action 1.3

Defiance Campaign

Defiance Campaign

The 1st coordinated nationwide campaign/protest organized by the ANC

Purpose of the Defiance Campaign

Meant to apply pressure on the South African government and force out into repealing apartheid legislation and negotiating with the ANC

Methods of the defiance campaign

• coordinated campaign of defiance

• Police would have to arrest — leading to prisons being filled and courts/police would be stretched to the limits

• Coordinated with other racial groups

Marked the beginning of the defiance campaign

ANC meeting in Johannesburg

Examples of Acts of Defiance

• burning/damaging passbooks

• Using segregated amenities

• Illegally entering white suburbs

• Remaining in white only suburbs post curfew

Criminal Laws Amendment

Allowed the government to give longer sentences and whipping for protestors

Suppression of communism act

Stopped the ANC meeting and “banned” them

Establishment of a commission on the Racial Situation in South Africa

The result of the defiance campaign bringing attention to the apartheid policies

Alliance of Anti-Apartheid Congress Movements

Came together in 1955 to form a singular popular front by uniting of of South Africa

• Expanded membership and broadened social base

• Drafted a freedom charter

Freedom Charter

• Called for and end to apartheid

• Election of a democratic, non-racial gov

• Equitable distribution of countries wealth

• Was called “treason” by the NP

Causes of bus boycotts

• tended to be be economic rather than political

• Connected to extremely low wage Africans

• Often successful

Alexandria Bus Boycott (1957)

• Triggered by bus company PUTCO raising fairs

• Hundreds of thousands of protesters

• Spread across South Africa

• Led to unexpected sympathy from whites

Sharpeville Massacare

• took place in March 1960

• White police officers took fire on a crowd of demonstrators outside a police station

• 69 unarmed people killed

ANC Split

A result of internal struggle about militarism

PAC

Pan African Congress, Military offshoot of the ANC

Post Sharpeville

ANC and PAC decided on militarism as strategy

Rivonia trial (1963-1964)

MK had safe house was raided and top MK leaders found and brought to trial

ANC

African National Congress (used civil disobedience)

Youth League’s Programme of Action

Called for civil disobedience with strikes and protests

Stock limitation act

Presented by the state as a way to better bantustan land — was actually a way to forcibly remove or slaughter cattle belonging to Africans on the reserves

Congress of the People (COP)

Alliance of anti apartheid congress movements

Kliptown

Known as the location for the 1955 congress of the people, met up there to draw up the freedom charter

Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK)

Paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC) founded by Nelson Mandela

Liliesleaf farm

The secret hideout of the MK where many fled as anti apartheid organizations were forced underground

Robben Island

Served as a distinct penal regime (prison)