SA Unit 4(0.4) Flashcards
What did government call in 1986 as a result of increasing pressures?
A state of Emergency.
What impact did US sanctions and banks have on SA’s economy?
-1985-86 over 90 US firms closed down their SA operations.
-1985 the international value of the Rand had fallen by 35% and the stock exchange faced crisis.
-The cost of imports rose by 60% between 1986-87.
-1987 World bank figures suggested SA growth rates were amongst the lowest in the developed world while inflation was the third highest among the industrial nations.
-Afrikaner businessmen were very pessimistic, fearing that investment would never return without meaningful reform.
Population differences? What new social class grew amongst Africans during the economic crisis?
-The white population was in decline, constrasting African growth. It was estimated Africans would outnumber whites by 5-1 by year 2000.
-Africans also grew more wealthy, with a new middle class.
Did Botha’s reforms help relax international criticism?
What did the British Commonwealth Committee report conclude about SA’s interventions abroad?
How isolated was SA by 1986?
Concluded that SA was responsible for:
-1 million deaths
-3 million homeless
-$35 million damage.
-1986 SA was more isolated than at any time in its history.
What was the aim of Botha’s Total Strategy?
-To defeat the ANC and bring order back to SA.
What was the aim of Botha’s Total Strategy?
-To defeat the ANC and bring order back to SA.
Why did Total Strategy fail?
-The economy was struggling, partly due to sanctions: inflation rose from 11% in 1983 to 18% in 1986.
-Dissent within gov’t, some wanted to maintain military pressure. Became clear it only hardened international perception.
-No end to violence in townships.
-Security forces unable to prevent acts of ANC and other groups. (Attacking bars popular to security forces.)
What were the aims of the 1986 State of Emergency?
-To re-establish internal control, particularly over the townships.
-Sought to maintain its domination over neighbours.
What happened as a result of the State of Emergency?
-It did not remove underlying problems, which were too great to control through coercion(Township violence).
-SADF deployed almost 8000 troops in the townships. 43 admitted deaths in police custody. 29,000 arrests.
-30+ organisations, including the UDF were banned. Media restrictions meant little went reported.
What did SA become under the State of Emergency? Did this impact the problems it faced?
A dictatorship governed by coercion and suppression of information. It had very little impact on the problems it faced.
