Dismantling apartheid 1990-1994

Question 1

what happened in the 1989 election

Answer 1

-PW Botha lost support due to dissatisfaction with apartheid and the economy
-FW de Klerk from the NP replaced Botha as party leader and became president in 1989

Question 2

what was the state of the SA economy in 1989

Answer 2

severely bad:
-sanctions and lack of investment internationally
-debt crisis of over $20bn
-high inflation
-high unemployment
-low growth

Question 3

how did de Klerk’s reform tackle the economy

Answer 3

Apartheid laws
-dismantled laws such as Population Registration Act and the Group Areas Act for a more inclusive economy
-this would encourage FDI and reduce economic inefficiencies caused by apartheid policies
-economic sanctions began to be lifted, such as the UN arms embargo in 1977 in 1993

Question 4

state of violence in South Africa in 1989

Answer 4

Widespread political violence
-clashes between ANC and IFP
-state sponsored violence
-strikes

Question 5

de Klerk’s response to violence

Answer 5

-engages in negotiations with ANC and other groups
-released political prisoners inc Mandela
-repealed apartheid laws that caused unrest like State of emergency, pop reg act, group areas act
-violence still continued

Question 6

de Klerk’s reforms with the ANC

Answer 6

Unbanning
-unbanned the ANC, SACP and other anti-apartheid organisation

Negotiations
-formal negotiations with ANC in CODESA talks in 1991
-aimed to create a new democratic constitution for majority rule SA

Challenges
-relationship between de Klerk and ANC was strained as they had their own interests
-ANC accused gov of complicity in violence, de Klerk made it clear he did not like ‘one man, one vote’ as it would supress minorities

Question 7

when were the CODESA talks set up

Answer 7

1991

-set up after the National Peace Accord (agreement between political parties to reduce violence for a stable environment for negotiations)

Question 8

CODESA I

Answer 8

-19 political parties including ANC, NP, IFP and SACP (Mandela and de Klerk main negotiators)
-parties agreed on the need for a democratic, non racial SA

What they talks involved:
-creation of a constitutional Assembly
-formation of Transitional Executive Council to oversee the transition
-mechanisms to ensure free and fair elections

Disagreements:
-NP wanted power sharing arrangement, ANC wanted majority rule
-political violence between ANC and IFP (Boipatong Massacre), led to ANC withdraw from CODESA

Question 9

why was there violence during the CODESA talks

Answer 9

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