Part Two - Opposition within South Africa Flashcards
The ANC (African National Congress)
Formed in 1912. It initially supported non-violent methods of protest against Apartheid yet became more militant after Sharpeville when it was banned.
The PAC (Pan African Congress)
Formed by former members of the ANC who believed it wasn’t radical enough, and believed the ANC collaborated too much with white people. The PAC established a terrorist group called Poqo. It was banned after Sharpeville.
MK
This was the armed wing of the ANC, co-founded by Nelson Mandela in the wake of the Sharpeville Massacre. Its mission was to fight against the SA government. It attacked government institutions/buildings.
The Defiance Campaign
When in 1952 the white government decided to arrange celebrations for 300 years since the foundation of South Africa the ANC decided they would oppose these celebrations. Their idea was to ignore the Apartheid laws such as going to white areas and get arrested for doing so.
Consequences of the Defiance Campaign
- Over 8,000 black people were arrested.
- Responded by passing more laws.
- Imprisoned up to three years.
- Had a big influence on other black people.
- Saw that mass action could catch the governments attention.
- ANC members increased dramatically.
The Freedom Charter
In 1955, the ANC leaders arranged a meeting with leaders of other groups who opposed apartheid. The freedom charter was launched which included basic points on freedom and democracy/ It was said that it would offer hope in the darkness.
The Freedom Charter’s Aims
- The people shall govern
- All national groups shall have equal rights
- The people shall share in the country’s wealth
- The land shall be shared amongst those who work for it
- All shall be equal before the law
- All shall enjoy equal human rights
- There shall be work and security
- The doors of learning and culture shall be opened
- There shall be houses, security and comfort
- There shall be peace and friendship
Consequences of the Freedom Charter
Around 156 people were arrested in the response to the Freedom Charter, most of them being Black and Indian people of South Africa. The court case was named the Treason Trial, and by the end the government failed to find any of the leaders guilty. This lasted five years and during that time the main leaders of the ANC were in prison meaning they could not campaign against apartheid.
Sharpeville, 1960
In March 1960 the PAC decided to launch a huge campaign against the law that meant they had to carry passbooks with them at all time that included their identity. On the 21st a crowd of black people without their passbooks converged around a police station in Sharpeville to show this. The original idea was that the police would be unable to arrest them and would eventually ignore them however they open fired, killing 69 people.
Consequences of Sharpeville
- Public gatherings were banned.
- ANC/PAC forced underground.
- ANC and PAC realised non violent protest had achieved nothing.
- ANC set up the MK, they began a sabotage campaign (electricity. railway stations).
Rivonia Trial
Nelson Mandela and seven others were arrested in 1963 after their recent involvement in the MK. Many expected the government to sentence them to death by hanging. By the end of the court case Mandela made a four and a half hour speech explaining why he had acted the way he had. They were eventually sentenced to life imprisonment, but Mandela only spent 27 years instead.
Soweto, 1976
On the 16th of June 1976 a protest was held in Soweto a place were over a million black people lived against black children in school having to be taught in Afrikaans. Despite the protest being peaceful and them being unarmed the police open fired into the crowds.
Consequences of Soweto
- Soweto and other areas erupted after this, and violence, riots and protests soon followed.
- Riots spread from Soweto into other parts of the country.
- The government’f official figures stated that 600 people were killed in the riots and over 1,500 were injured,
Role of Women
Lilian Ngoyi - Anti-Apartheid activist that was elected the first women ever to be the ANC national executive in 1956. On August 9th 1956 she led a marsh to one of the largest anti-apartheid meetings in history.
The Black Sash - In 1955 a group of white women formed an organisation called The Women’s Defence of the Constitution League. They protested against any move made by the Nationalist Party that controlled the lives of black people in South Africa.
Helen Josef - Fought especially for black women’s rights and helped establish The Federation of South African Women. She arranged a march of 20,000 women to Pretoria to protest against the pass laws.
Helen Suzman - A politician with the Liberal Party for 36 years. In 1961 to 1974 she was the only member of parliament that was against apartheid.
Winnie Mandela - Appeared as an opponent of the white government during the 80s whilst her husband Nelson Mandela was in prison. She was popular throughout the media during the 80s and 90s and had a bad reputation from her interviews with journalists where she would harshly criticise the national government.
The Role of Church Leaders
Trevor Hudleston - Went out to work with the church in Sophiatown in 1943. Over the next 13 years he became the minister and was loved by the people and respected for his hard work opposing apartheid. When the black people of Sophiatown were forced with violence to leave their homes, Father Trevor Huddlestone fought passionately against this.
Bishop Desmond Tutu - After the Soweto riots in 1976, Archbishop Tutu encouraged other countries to refuse investing in South Africa and place sanctions of them. He arranged marches with brought 30,000 people out on the streets of Cape Town. He did not fear speaking out publicly against apartheid. He supported non-violent protests and spoke out against the violent tactics of the ANC.
