Dismantling apartheid, 1990-94 Flashcards
Reasons for De Klerk’s reforms
Apartheid was no longer working for the South African economy
International criticisms and sanctions were increasingly harmful
Escalating violence/anti-apartheid protests in South Africa
End of Cold War showed communism was no longer a threat enabling De Klerk to negotiate with ANC without connections to communism
F.W. De Klerk’s reforms (1990)
Unbanning of ANC and SACP
Release of many political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela (after 27 years served)
End to state of emergency, reduction in powers of security services
Separate Amenities Act would be repealed
Land Acts would be repealed (effectively beginning the end of apartheid structures)
Announced start of negotiations to organise democratic voting rights for black South Africans
Key effects of de Klerk becoming President of South Africa in 1989
Policies which began the dismantling of the Apartheid state
Beginning of negotiations with Mandela and ANC, a move towards full democracy in South Africa
CODESA
Convention for a Democratic South Africa
Negotiations for democratic elections in South Africa (1990-94)
Problems of different political goals of ANC and NP
ANC wanted a majority via one-person-one-vote elections while NP wanted a power-sharing gov. in which a party that achieved a minority of votes could still have representation in gov. cabinet
ANC wanted a centralist country - all regions ruled by the centre, while NP wanted a federal structure - the regions had considerable autonomy, whilst a central government decided on overarching issues
Problems of escalating political violence in South Africa (Inkatha v ANC)
Attacks on ANC supporters by Buthelezi’s Zulu Inkatha forces because Inkatha wanted a federal solution enabling Kwa-Zulu to retain some autonomy (along with a lot of rivalry between ANC and Inkatha)
Inkatha attacks threatened to undermine negotiations because ANC believed that some state security forces were allowing these attacks to happen
Violence and mistrust slowed down talks in 1991, and derailed them in 1992 when Mandela walked out of the talks after Boipatong massacre by Inkatha, claiming NP security forces had allowed it
Violence also made it harder for Mandela to keep the support of ANC for talks, as sections of ANC argued they needed to defend themselves and use violence
Problems of escalating white extremist violence in South Africa
Assassination of popular MK leader Chris Hani (1993) threatened to destabilise negotiations as it seemed like SA would descend into civil war in revenge/defence - Mandela intervention to prevent this
AWB intimidation and violence disrupted people voting in 1994 - this opposition was wiped out in the Battle of Bop which killed many of the AWB (stark sign that white power in SA was over)
St James Church massacre
1993: PAC’s most controversial attack (APLA militant wing), insisted on armed struggle
During Sunday evening service at St James Church - predominantly white, grenades and gunfire
Two APLA operatives killed 11 (including elderly and teenagers), wounded 58
Whites horrified, PAC seen as terrorist and credibility destroyed, ANC condemned attack
Boipatong massacre
1992: 200+ IFP militants (allegedly supported by security forces) went house-to-house at night targeting ANC supporters, 46 dead (women, children, elderly), hundreds injured (many mutilated)
Police allegedly blocked escape routes, Mandela accused de Klerk of “complicity in genocide”
Derailed negotiations, exposed possible state violence
Contributions of de Klerk towards success of negotiations
Passed reforms dismantling apartheid (1990)
Released Mandela and committed to negotiations to achieve a democratic SA
Worked hard to get and retain support of the white community for negotiations - appeals towards business and religious community (vital for economy, apartheid immoral) etc. Organised 1992 referendum which gave him a good argument to continue negotiations (69% of white vote in favor of talks)
Prepared to compromise - In the 1993 constitutional agreement, neither did he get a full power-sharing government, nor did he get a federal structure.
Contributions of Mandela towards success of negotiations
Committed to negotiation and not to take a violent path, even after Inkatha attacks and assassination of Chris Hani - Mandela offered to restart failed CODESA talks if de Klerk agreed to try to minimise Inkatha attacks
Stood up for ANC against NP sufficiently to show that the ANC would not be pushed around (e.g. Mandela walked out of CODESA after the Boipatong massacre in 1992)
Prepared to compromise - In the 1993 constitutional agreement, Mandela did agree to some form of power-sharing as minority party would have representation in the cabinet (not majority gov. solution ANC wanted)
His international profile and fame ensured foreign powers backed negotiations
Contributions of international situation towards success of negotiations
Sanctions remained in place to keep pressure on
Encouragement offered when de Klerk and Mandela jointly awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1993
Results of 1994 elections
19 million black and white South Africans voted
ANC won, but not by quite as much as they had hoped (62.6%, short of 66% required to change the constitution unilaterally i.e. without having to consult with another party)
NP won 20.4%, Inkatha Freedom Party won 10.5%, enough for Buthelezi to become a cabinet member
Mandela became president, de Klerk (NP) and Thabo Mbeki (ANC) deputy presidents
Key effects of de Klerk on negotiations
Initial reforms dismantled apartheid state and enabled talks for democracy to take place
Preparedness to compromise to get a settlement with Mandela
Worked hard to retain support of significant sections of white population
Key effects of Mandela on negotiations
Committed to negotiations and halted descent into violence
Prepared to compromise (but not too much) which helped get settlement
Key effects of Buthelezi
Increased violence between ANC and Inkatha (did not want loss of Zulu influence)
Violence destabilised negotiations and threatened civil war
Ultimately conceded and supported the process (got 10% of vote)
Contributions of Cyril Ramaphosa
Leader of NUM (National Union of Miners) - largest trade union for workers
He brokered the 5 year power-sharing agreement
