South Africa topic 4

The end of apartheid and the creation of the ‘rainbow nation’ 1984-94

What was occurring in the mid-1980s?

South Africa was in ferment with increasing violence and protest from the grassroots often uncontrolled by any central organisations

What was the UDF?

The United Democratic Front

Created in August 1983

Made up of 575 organisations who wanted to coordinate internal opposition against apartheid

What was the goal of the UDF?

A new South African government based on the tenets of the Freedom Charter

Also, wanted the abandonment of the Bantustans

What was the UDF influenced by?

Christian principles

It had influential senior Christian figures such as Allan Boesak and Frank Chincane

Protest strategies of the UDF

The UDF had support as high as 2 million

Supported by the COSATU - the number of strikes proliferated and the number of days lost free from 1 million in 1986 to 6 million in 1987

Organised marches, protests and demonstrations. Local groups such as the Port Elizabeth Black Civic Organisation organised protests against poor housing

1983 to 1984 the UDF’s petition got one million signatures. It proposed a new constitution and black local government

What was the UDF’s programme?

People’s organs, people’s power

It used local organisations to plan activities

EXAMPLE = rent strikes in 1989 rent arrears grew by half a billion rand

When was the UDF banned?

1987

What was the ANC’s anthem?

God Bless Africa

It showed that the movement was becoming more nationalist.

Why was communal violence bad?

It was getting beyond anyone’s control

• In 1984, violent demonstrations against rent increases in the Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging area 175 were killed

• Local courts descended into violence and alleged malefactors were lynched or necklaced

• 1985 - over 800 people killed as a result of political activity

What group created fears of violence?

The Zulu group Inkhata claimed to be a national liberation group but were increasingly responsible for black-on-black violence

Issues between Inkhata and the ANC

In the 1980s, their stand offs increased

The Inkhata tended to support the government more and got assistance from the security forces in their attacks on alleged ANC supporters

What was feared in South Africa during the 1980s?

South Africa was descending into civil war and the townships were uncontrollable

Community Council Act 1977

Established elected townships council

Their aim was to give Africans more say in the running of their communities

Also to stop antagonism against white officials

What was total onslaught?

The fear that there was a total co-ordinated attack orchestrated by communists to destroy apartheid

What was total strategy?

The government’s response to total onslaught

To fight against it within South Africa and abroad by any means necessary

What did total strategy involve?

Restricting the government with the emphasis on security

Botha maintained a good relationship with defence minister Malan

What was the National Management System?

Established by Botha in 1979

It oversaw the government

There were 4 cabinet committees - economic , social, constitutional affairs and security

ARMSCOR

it developed the country’s own arms industries

The purpose of ARMSCOR was to develop the country’s arms industry

What was the state security council?

Set up by Botha and comprised of army generals

What was set up to establish a new political system?

Transitional Executive Council

1993

goal = to establish a rainbow nation where everyone is valued irrespective of race, based on the principles of the freedom charter of 1955

4 key parts of the new constitution

South Africa would be divided into 9 provinces - all with their own elected government and civil service

A bill of rights protected by a constitutional court

Guaranteed sharing power for 5 years, the president would come from the leading party

The new system could only be amended by 2/3 majority of the popular vote

Statistics for the first elections in April 1994

Hugely anticipated

ANC won 62.5%

NP won 20.5%

Inkhata won 10.5%

PAC won 1.25%

GNU

Government of National Unity

Why did South Africa continue to have problems?

45 years of apartheid could not be effaced by a new constitution

Africans experienced a slow pace of change - lack of education, high crime rates, lack of access jobs

How did Mandela establish unity?