PW Botha Flashcards
what was the Bureau of State Security (BOSS)
Existed from 1969-1980
-purpose was to monitor and suppress anti apartheid groups. Focused on spying, infiltrating and assassinating activists, esp ANC
-sent a letter bomb to RUth first (ANC activists in Mozambique), killing her in 1978
-funded pro apartheid media to influence public opinion
-spread false info about ANC, as communist terrorists
-linked to 100 assassinations of ANC members
-over 2,000 anti-apartheid activists killed or disappeared from gov operations
-became corrupt after the Muldergate Scandal in 1978, they were using gov money for secret propaganda
-renamed the national intelligence service (NIS) after
National intelligence Service
-created by PW Botha to replace BOSS
-worked more internationally, more sophisticated and less brutal
-carried out assassinations on ANC leaders, such as Dulcie September
-carried out attacks on ANC in Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe
what was the united democratic front UDF
1983
-coalition of 565anti apartheid groups, including student organisations, labour unions, women’s groups and church groups
-mobilised mass resistance against apartheid policies in the 1980s and worked with the ANC
Allan Boesak
-prominent church leader and anti apartheid activists
-called for a nationwide movement to oppose the gov’s new constitution
-his speeches inspired the formation of the UDF
-he was a speaker at the UDF’s launch rally in Cape Town, attended by 10,000 people
New constitution of 1983 and the UDF
-South African government introduced a new constitution 1983 which: had a three chamber parliament: whites had full control, coloured and Indians had limited representation, blacks were completely excluded from national politics
-UDF opposed this and launched protests to reject participation in this new system, mobilising millions of people through protests, boycotts and strikes
-in 1984, over 1m people protested against this new constitution
ANC policy of civil disobedience in the townships
-ANC encouraged mass resistance in townships through the UDF and other groups
-mass protests and boycotts spread across the country
-government responded with violence, declaring a State of Emergency, which gave police power to arrest activists without trial
-between 1984 and 1989, over 10,000 activists were arrested and 2,000 killed by security forces
South African military action in surrounding countries
-As ANC activities increased, the South African government attacked ANC bases in neighbouring countries
-SADF launched cross-border raids in:
Angola (ANC bases and SWAPO)
Mozambique (ANC safe houses)
Zimbabwe (tried to disrupt ANC operations)
-SA also supported anti-communist rebel groups to weaken ANC allies (UNITA in Angola, RENAMO in Mozambique)
-by 1988, SA was spending $1.5bn per year on military operations in neighbouring countries
Role of Church leaders in opposing apartheid
-Desmond Tutu was a vocal critic of apartheid and pushed for economic sanctions against South Africa. Also lead the SACC with Chikane.
-by 1986, USA, UK and 23 other countries had imposed economic sanctions on South Africa
-travelled internationally, urging Western countries to sanction SA
-won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984
-other church leaders organised peaceful protests and boycotts
-Boesak and Naude also were critics of the apartheid policies, such as forced removal and the detention of political opponents
-Frank Chikane was the leader of the UDF and general secretary of the SACC, he gave opposition to detention, torture and assassination by security forces
-they used their moral authority and framed apartheid as a sin and violation of human rights
-gave moral legitimacy to the protests
-not much other impact other than moral condemnation
Township Uprisings
1984-86
-caused by the 1983 constitution, poor living conditions in townships and the UDF organisation
-protests included: not paying rent payments, blocking roads, burning gov buildings and attacking police
-MK used sabotage attacks on government buildings
-government declared state of emergency in 1985, so security forces could detain and kill protestors without trial
-in the 1984 stayaway, 800k people stayed home in protests, organised by trade unions
Botha’s reforms
-tricameral parliament that gave whites full power, some to Coloured and Indians but none to blacks (representation) (led to formation of UDF)
-legalised black trade unions to control proliferation of workers strikes, esp after Durban strikes.
-relaxation of some apartheid laws: interracial marriages allowed, pass laws abolished (other movement restrictions), limited property rights in urban areas, desegregated public facilities (to improve image of SA, did not change ‘apartheid’, such as political reforms. socioeconomic limitations made this change limited as blacks could not afford to live near them)
-spending of education tripled by 1990 for blacks, but still segregated (ignored De Lange report suggestions of desegregating education)
-established Urban Black Councils to let them control services like water in townships, but had limited funding and power
-promoted independence for Bantustans, over 10m black SA lost citizenship and were only citizens of their homelands. This further isolated them from participating in national politics
impacts of Botha’s reforms
-increased political involvement of blacks in local politics through establishment of urban councils and increased investment in townships (limited)
-provoked rioting and township unrest through the Tricameral parliament, lead to State of Emergency in 1985, saw it as an attempt to divide and weaken opposition to apartheid. Formation of UDF
-led to a split in the NP, creation of Afrikaner Conservative Party gaining sufficient support to become official opposition to the Nationalists.
impact of Botha’s reforms on the National Party
Division of NP:
-conservative Afrikaners felt Botha was betraying apartheid, and left to form the Afrikaner Conservative Party
-NP lost support among right-wing whites white still failing to gain black support. CP had 26% of the white votes in 1987 election
-government had to use more violent repression as reforms did not stop protests. State of emergency killed many
impact of Botha’s reforms for Blacks
Resistance intensified and more strikes:
-formation of UDF which mobilised millions against apartheid, most protests. 2m members by 1985
-2,000 protests and uprisings between 1984-86
-COSATU formed in 1985, representing over 500k workers. Strikes increased, with 1.2m workdays lost in 1987, vs 200k in 1984
-township uprisings as reforms did not address inequalities of apartheid: 2k killed in clashes with security forces. Also organised consumer boycotts against white owned businesses. 40% drop in sales
International Impact of Botha’s reforms
Condemnation
-criticised Tricameral Parliament for excluding Blacks
-UN general assembly passed a resolution declaring apartheid as a crime against humanity
Economic
-stricter sanctions
-US Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid 1986 banned new investments and imports
-weaker economy
-SA rand lost 40% against US dollar between 1976 and 1985
Disinvestment Campaigns
-foreign companies withdrew
-1986: over 200 US companies withdrew including Coca Cola and IBM
What was the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging AWB and its aims
-far right white supremacist group that opposed Botha’s reforms as it started to dismantle apartheid
-wanted SA under white minority rule
-wanted an independent Boerestaat (Afrikaner homeland) separate from South Africa
-had around 15k active members at its peak
activities of the AWB
Meetings and Protests
-held large public gatherings with members dressed in nazi like uniforms. Speeches promoted Afrikaner nationalism
-attacked blacks and white liberals. Also assaulted journalists and disrupted NP meetings
-tried to disrupt de Klerk’s election rallies, threatening for violence if apartheid was abolished
Terrorism
-had a paramilitary force of 4k trained men. Stockpiled weapons in preparation for a race war
-stormed the World Trade Centre using armoured vehicles
-planted bombs in Johannesburg, killing 21
Elections
-killed 40 people to stop black voters from participating
-lost support and many got arrested after Mandela’s victory, down to less than 1k by the early 2000s
What were the Crossroads and what did the government try to do
-one of the largest squatter camps in South Africa, housed thousands of Black residents who had migrated to Cape Town in search of work
-Severely overcrowded, inadequate access to clean water and healthcare
-government tried to relocate residents to a township further from the city centre, so they could further segregate Black people from urban areas
-residents resisted relocation to not disrupt lives and community ties
Violence at the Squatter Camp
Residents and Security Forces
-resistance to relocation led to violent clashes between residents and security forces
-guns and tear gas used
