BIG BOTHA response to resistance 1978-90 Flashcards
UDF
United Democratic Front. 1. supported boycotts and carried out strikes and forms of passive resistance.
2. NOT political parties cannot be banned
3. does not have a designated leadership group
4. an effective opposition group
5. 1984 protests against rent collection
ANC 78-90
ANC suffered imprisonment of most key leaders like Mandela and Sisulu
Oliver Tambo main man but only partly successful in this timeframe
wanted to gain members to have more effectiveness and relevance
Mandela’s imprisonment became a symbol of the evilness of apartheid.
“FREE NELSON MANDELA” became big bargaining power to stop apartheid
Township unrest 80s
situation in townships anarchic
townships still had bad conditions
black governing members of townships targeted as traitors to black South Africa
governing members often corrupt
‘people’s courts’ started
Church leaders
- All white Dutch reformed church wanted to find justifiable reason for apartheid
- the multi faith committee spread awareness of other religions and the evils of apartheid
- churches were against the 1957 act which prevented blacks and whites to pray together
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu first black archbishop of Cape Town
preached at Biko’s funeral in 1978
Nobel Peace prize 1984 sticking to non-violent protests even with violent massacres and events.
He one of the main leaders while ANC and PAC were still banned
Reasons for Botha’s reforms
Botha convinced that communist forces inside and out of SA the govt.
wanted to destabilise opposition in neighbouring countries
limited domestic reforms. ending some forms of petty apartheid eg abolishing mixed marriages act and pass laws.
makes a tricameral parliament that is majority white but contains an Indian and Coloureds parliament as well.
Consequences of Botha’s reforms for SA citizens
NP - negative in that lost significant support in white community but retained majority vote
Coloureds and Indians - positive at surface level because of new parliament
Blacks - not benefitting other than repeal of some petty apartheid laws
AWB
Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging
Resisted Botha
played on white fear of loss of jobs, status, and quality of life
1987 onwards NP lose by-elections to conservative party because of AWB
argued that limited reforms to Indians and Coloured counterproductive because they encouraged black power activists to fight for a no white power SA
THESE WERE EXTREMISTS
had several thousand members using neo-Nazi style marches and rallies
Reasons and background for State of emergency 1985-90
1985 Botha declared state of emergency
SA facing imminent communist attack from within
townships ungovernable because of radicalist black nationalist agitators
censorship of media reducing negative headlines in foreign press
consequences for state of emergency
short term - success for apartheid regime. mass arrests weakened opposition and the forcing of leaders into hiding makes communications almost impossible
long term - state of emergency harmed the regime. dramatised to the world that SA had no alternative to brute force. showed that the NP only did this to protect minority white rule. contributes to collapse of regime
internation opposition to apartheid - Boycotts and Sanctions
sanctions had limited impact before 1980s
from 1985 onwards big US companies and banks withdrew investment leading to economic crisis.
1988 long term impact of the sale of military equipment to SA became apparent when SA defeated by communists in Angola.
Cultural and sporting boycotts. yes.
