1960-68 - resistance and creating a republic

Pass Law protests (Build up to Sharpeville)

Pass Law protests (Build up to Sharpeville)

• ANC called for series of protests from 31st march 1960 → PAC announced 21st March (pre-empted ANC)

• PAC campaign poorly organised - demanded police arrest them → they did (so few protestors took part in only PAC protest days - many waited for ANC protest)

Sharpeville

Background:

• Over 40% U18, crime and gang violence, new police station with officers energetic to check passes ect.

• PAC active through Tsolo brothers - manipulated gangs to coerce people into cooperating

Events:

• 5,000 - 20,000 protests demanded arrest outside station

• Standoff continued until officer stumbled (thought shot) → 69 idled (70% shot in the back)

Sharpeville - Government response

• State of emergency declared (30 March) → 10,000 arrested including Mandela

• PAC and ANC declared illegal (unlawful organisations act)

• Caused both orgs to become more militant, emigration > immigration, net outward flow of nearly R200m (1960)

• Forster created Bureau of state security (BOSS) - Inc security police

• Sabotage act 1962 - death penalty and guilt implied for sabotage (allowed torture)

• General laws amendment act 1963 - allowed arrests up to 90 days without charges (possible to extend indefinitely), Inc ‘Sobukwe Clause’ (prisoners can be kept in prison after sentence end)

• Weasels Enquiry - exonerated police from blame

Sharpeville - international response

UNSC resolution 134, particularly damning (blamed system of apartheid) BUT UK and France Abstained

Creating a republic

• MacMillan ‘winds of change’ speech 1960 - advocated African independence and gov should accommodate Africans → laager mentality

• 1960 refurendum - 52% supported republican (split between Afrikaners and English-speakers)

• Verwoerd left commonwealth after apartheid criticised (1961) BUT didn’t diminish cultural/political links to UK