fall of apartheid Flashcards
De Klerk coming to power
1989 Botha suffered a mild stroke and was succeeded by FW De Klerk
Supposed to be a strong conservative in favour of apartheid, however upon coming into power declared:
Legalisation of ANC PAC and SACP
Release of political prisoners (incl Mandela and Sisulu)
He would work together with political groups to create new constitution
Why did De Klerk make such change?
Some believe he misunderstood what he was doing, attempting to do a power-sharing scheme for the nationalists.
Economy of SA was desolate and was going to continue to suffer under apartheid due to sanctions etc.
Many Afrikaners began to go against apartheid with a split beginning to form.
Why did the nationalists want to release Mandela?
As in prison he had become an even bigger icon, visits etc keeping him in spotlight.
Better for him to quietly retire however Mandela refused to give up politics for his freedom.
Mandela release
Released in February 1990
Assumed position of head of ANC after Oliver Tambo suffered a stroke.
Aimed for ANC to overthrow apartheid.
Concerns over end of apartheid
SA government and security had used covert actions to disturb national elections in Namibia.
Sebokeng Massacre March 1990 saw police fire into a crowd of 50000 ANC supporters, killing 11 + injuring 400 ahead of first meeting of ANC and governemnt.
Opposition from white supremacists, as upon increased reforms white supremacist groups increased in violent activity, with no police intervention.
State sponsored political violence as De Klerk secretly encouraged black on black violence.
Disagreements over new constitution, De Klerk against ‘1 man 1 vote’.
CODESA
Convention for a democratic South Africa opened in late 1991.
Involved ANC and 20 other political organisations talking with government to negotiate new constitution and government for SA
National Party CODESA wants
No 1 man 1 vote, as WSA would become a minority in politics.
Minority parties such as national party to have share of power in new government to reassure WSA.
Regional power remains in hands of black collaborators (black ruling chiefs such as buthelezi)
ANC CODESA wants
Essentially summed up to 1 man 1 vote under a completely democratic system.
Homelands to be completely abolished
Inkatha + conflict vs ANC
De Klerk’s support for homeland chiefs brought ANC and Inkatha (Zulu group) into conflict
Zulu organisation that claimed to represent the interests of all zulus, lead by chief Buthelezi head of Kwa Zulu
Zulu had enjoyed special status under apartheid.
They held the right to carry ‘cultural weapons’ as warrior people that felt that being unarmed was ‘unmanly’
Led to many clashes 1991-92 between Inkatha and ANC
Zulus often used hotels for migrant workers as bases for attacks against ANC.
Third force
WSA police accused of acting as mysterious ‘third force’
went in disguise to attack ANC and stir up violence between Inkatha and ANC.
De klerk denied any involvement in this
Mandela argued that De Klerk should’ve banned Inkatha carrying of ‘cultural weapons’ + criticsed him for not controlling police.
AWB
Violent white supremacy group that used Botha reforms as a rallying point for change.
Attacked non-whites, etc
Believed SA was theirs by right and looked to enter a war to retain it.
Headed by Eugene Terre-Blanche
Engaged in bombing campaign in 1994 to derail election and was prepared to kill De Klerk and Botha.
Wanted a volkstaat (a seperate state for boers to live in)
Why did Mandela walk out of CODESA?
pt1 (Boipatong)
Boipatong Massacre 17 June 1992 saw Inkatha attack residents of Boipatong township and kill 46 (mainly women and children)
Security didn’t help at all, and de klerk remained silent, thus angering mandela.
de klerk refused to admit that he incited this violence and that he turned a blind eye to it.
why did Mandela walk out of CODESA pt2 (Bisho)
7th September 1992 70,000 ANC members led by Chris Hani (leader of MK) marched to Bisho.
March was in protest of Brigadier Gqozo, ruler of the Ciseki homeland (Bisho, capital of Ciseki).
Gqozo believed marchers were trying to get rid of him and ordered troops to open fire, killing 28 and wounding >200.
Mandela protests against De Klerk post leaving CODESA
ANC suspended CODESA talks and embarked on a campaign of mass action.
There was a 48 hr strike and 100,000 led by Mandela marched to Union Government buildings in Pretoria.
ANC started campaigning against remaining homeland governments (esp after Bisho)
Evidence came out, showing the De Klerk’s government were funding Inkatha + security forces were committing political murder + secret police involved in plans to destabilise ANC.
CODESA continues
De Klerk’s moral authroity was collapsing, and suffered opposition from all signs.
Came to an agreement in Septmeber 1992 to resume talks, promising a national elections that all SAs could take part in no later than April 1994.
This agreement was known as record of understanding.
Cyril Ramaphosa and Roelf Meyer
Ramaphosa was chosen to head ANC negotiation team in talks with NP.
Roelf was chief negotiatior for NP.
Had an extremely good relationship, allowing them to come to understandings and compromises in the wake of Mandela leaving CODESA.
Laid groundwork for record of understanding
Record of understanding September 26 1992.
NP to :
Release more political prisoners
Erect fences around migrant worker hostels to protect against Inkatha
Ban the carrying of ‘traditional weapons’
Whole SA vote before April 1994.
Government of National Unity
Interim government compromised of all parties that won >5% of vote in 1994 vote.
Sunset clause and Joe Slovo
Compromise between power sharing and full democracy.
Known as a sunset clause, as would only span for 5 years.
aimed to ease SA out of apartheid.
Joe Slovo leader of SACP who proposed it, thus ending never-ending debates between ANC and NP.
Murder of Chris Hani
10th April 1993 SACP and MK leader gunned down by a white racist.
Mandela gave a nationwide speech to calm people to stop civil war.
Final Deal November 1993
An interim constitution was agreed under which SA would be ruled of GONU.
1.1 person 1 vote in april 1994 election to elect 200 MPs.
- Any party >80 seats to have deputy president.
- All parties with >5% of vote to have representation in parliament
- No party to have right to veto
- Any new constitution had to be supported by >66% of parliament
- 9 new provinces created to replace homelands + old provinces
Election 1994
Violence ensued leading up to and during election (26th-30th april)
AWB and Inkatha mainly caused it to try and disrupt voting.
In total 14,000 people had been killed 1990-94 in politically related incidents
19 million SAs (91% of registered voters) cast their votes.
ANC won, but less than 66% needed to change the temporary constitution (mainly due to Inkatha gaining 10.5%)
De Klerk became deputy president.
Mandela was unanimously elected by the national assembly as president of SA on 9 May 1994.
