SA unit 4 (0.1) Flashcards
By the mid 1980s what was happening in South Africa?
It was ferment with increasing violence and protest from grassroots often uncontrolled by any central organisations.
Who founded the UDF? What was their aim?
1983, 575 organisations founded the United Democratic Front. Whose aim was to co-ordinate internal opposition.
-Its ultimate goal was a new South African government based on the Freedom Charter.
-It saw the abandonment of Bantustans, where many activities took place. UDF came to be seen as the internal wing of the ANC.
What were the strategies of the UDF? Where did they gain support?
-Particularly supported by the Indian Congresses and Congress of SA trade unions(COSATU).
-Days of strikes went from 1,000,000 in 1986 to 6,000,000 in 1987.
-It organised marches, protests and demonstrations throughout SA. Local groups were affiliated and organised protests against poor housing, eletric supplies.
-1983-84 it campaigned to get a million signatures for mass petition against proposed new constitution and black local government.
What did the UDF try to do in 1983-84? Size of the organisation and how did they attract followers?
-1983-84 it campaigned to get a million signatures for a mass petition against the proposed new constitution and black local government.
-Support for the UDF approx 2 million. Many felt they were responding to Tambo’s call to make SA ‘ungovernable’.
How did the UDF use grassroots organisations? What were the advantages/disadvantages?
-UDF began a programme of ‘People’s Organs, People’s Power’, using local organisations to plan activities I.e. rent strikes and local courts to oversee communities.
-The advantage of these activities for the UDF was that there was no obvious national figures to arrest or ban: members arrested and activities continued
-The problem was that UDF sponsored organisations were unable to stem a growing rate of violence.
What happened in Pretoria 1984? How many were killed due to political activity(1985)?
In violent demonstrations against rent increases 175 people were killed. Many of the local courts descended into violence, alleged malefactors lynched or ‘necklaced’.
1985 alone +800 people were killed as a result of political activity.
What group was renowned for black on black violence?
Different African groups were turning on each other. The Inkhata in particular a Zulu group, claiming to be a national liberation group was increasingly responsible for this violence.
Reasons for violence between Inkhata and ANC? Who supported the Inkhata
Long hostility between migrant workers who lived in barracks with residents of townships who favoured the ANC.
-The Inkhata were more supportive of the government so had covert assistance from the security forces in their attacks on alleged ANC supporters.
What did many people fear in the mid 1980s?
Many people were afraid that SA was descending into civil war. Townships in particular seemed uncontrolled.
