Apartheid in South Africa 1960-1994 Flashcards
What decade did apartheid begin in South Africa?
1930s
What was the name of the political party in power during apartheid?
The National Party
What was the percentage of Africans in South Africa in the 1960s?
68%
What were the Bantustans?
Ethnic tribal homelands for black people
How much of South Africa’s land was set aside for white residents, despite the fact that they comprised less than 10% of the population.
80%
What happened on the 21 March, 1960?
Sharpeville Massacre
What year was the Treason Trial?
1956
State two of the multiple significant impacts of the Sharpeville massacre.
Government response – the country was shocked so marches and stop work resulted.
International impact – UN passed a resolution (No 134) and expressed anger at SA, offered families sympathy and international isolation began
ANC and PAC response – forced to go underground
Economic impact – investors withdrew funds and a drop off of white immigration
What was the name of the trial where Nelson Mandela and other ANC members were sentenced to prison in 1963?
Rivonia Trial
Steve Biko was a member of SASO. What is SASO?
South African Students Organisation
Afrikaner
Term used by original Dutch settlers and their descendants to describe themselves
African National Congress (ANC)
Key black organisation opposing white supremacy, created in 1912 as the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), renamed in 1923.
What was on the 21st March 1960?
Sharpeville Masacre
Prohibition of Marriages Act (1949)
Prohibition of marriage between whites and any other racial group
Immorality Act (1950)
Prohibition of adultery, attempted adultery or related ‘immoral’ acts such as sexual intrcource between white and black people.
The Population Registration Act (1950)
All South Africans must be racially classified into one of three categories: white (both parents), black (part of an african race or tribe), coloured (neither black nor white).
Pencil test could be used as a decider.
The Group Areas Act (1950)
Residential separation compulsory - legal provisions on the specific areas where people of different population groups could own property, reside and work - to prevent non-whites from entering white-only areas
The Suppression of Communism Act (1950)
Formally banned Communist Party of South Africa, proscribed any party or group subscribing to communism according to a uniquely broad definition of the term.
Effect
○ Frequently used to silence critics of racial segregation and apartheid
○ Facilitated government suppression of organisations
The Bantu Authorities Act (1951)
Objective to keep black people permanently from urban areas - set up “homelands” - granted independent status by central agreement - under chiefs subordinate to masters in Pretoria - lose SA citizenship and voting rights
The Native Laws Amendment Act (1952)
Narrowed definition of category of blacks who had the right to permanent residence in towns - limited this to those who’d been born in a town and had lived there continuously for at least 15 years or worked there for 10 years
The Abolition of Passes Act (1952)
Further measure by govt to curb labour mobility - Introduction of reference book bearing photographs, details of origin, employment record, tax payments, fingerprints, encounters with police - repealed regional pass laws - made it nation-wide
Bantu Education Act (1953) -
Establishment of a separate educational system, to ‘provide Blacks with skills to serve their own people in the homelands’
The Criminal Law Amendment Act (1953)
Asserted anyone accompanying a person found guilty of offences committed during protests, or accompanied campaigns against harsh laws - presumed guilty and would have the responsibility to prove his or her innocence - repealed 1982
The Reservation of Separate Amenities Act (1953)
Separate amenities for different racial groups, these facilities not the same quality for different groups - segregation signs displayed across the country
Native Labour (Settlement of disputes) Act (1953)
Prohibited registered trade unions from accepting black workers as members and forbade black workers to strike
Referendum to become a Republic
Cut all ties with British commonwealth, in 1961
What happened at the Sharpeville Massacre?
Police opened fire on protesters. 69 people killed and 180 wounded. 49 were also killed in Cape Town around the same time.
What was the Umkhonto we size (spear of the nation)?
A branch of the now underground ANC. Pursued a policy of violence and sabotage against power stations and gov buildings.. Objective was to harm white economy.
Nelson Mandela
1944 - Youth leader of ANC
1956- arrested on charges of treason, went to trail and acquitted in 1961
1955- Helped draft freedom Charter
Became leader of the spear of the nation
What was the Freedom Charter?
Adopted at the Congress of people on 26 June 1955
- All the right to vote
- National groups have equal rights
- People share the countries wealth
- Land shared among those who work it
- All equal before the law
- All enjoy equal human rights
- Doors of learning opened to all
- Houses, security, and comfort
- Peace and friendship
What was the Riviona Trial?
Police arrest MK executives and ANC members.
- Were arrested and charged with treason
- World’s attention on trial (death penalty withdrawn by government)
- Life in Prison on Robben Island
- Mandela included
