South Africa 1984-94 Flashcards
What was the UDF
An umbrella organisation made up of people from all races, groups and political organisations who believed in complete democracy
Where and when was the first UDF rally, and how many people from how many organisations attended
Mitchell’s Plain in Cape Town, August 1983.
It was attended by 10,000 people from over 500 organisations
What was significant about the site of the first UDF rally
It was a huge coloured township, emphasising the non-racial beliefs of the UDF, which had suffered from government forced relocations
Who became the largest affiliate of the UDF
COSAS
What is the ‘Vaal Triangle’
A triangle of land formed by the cities of Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark and Sasolburg. These include many townships and impoverished areas such as Sharpeville and Sebokeng
Describe the Vaal Triangle Uprising
An uprising on the 3rd September 1984 against the NP, led by the Vaal Civic Association (UDF affiliate). It was supposed to be nonviolent but the VCA lost control and government councillors were murdered across the Vaal Triangle
How did the Black SA population and ANC react to the Vaal Triangle Uprising
They used secret communication and radio to protest all around the country in a bid to make it ‘ungovernable’
What change to protest did the ANC make after the Vaal Triangle Uprisings and in what year
They called for a ‘people’s war’ resorting to full violence in 1984, allowing the MK to use any violence necessary
Name an example of an attack on the public by MK and an attack on MK by the government
- A bomb detonated at a supermarket in Amanzimtoti in 1985 killed 5 people
- A black policeman called Joe Mamasela went undercover, giving 8 COSAS members rigged hand grenades which blew each COSAS member up
Name a township that completely revolted in 1986
Alexandra, Johannesburg
Describe the events of Alexandra in 1986 (5 key points)
- There were already tensions but it boiled over when a youth activist called Michael Diradeng was shot dead by a guard In January 1986
- night going into 14th February 1986, a night vigil went around the town petrol bombing shops, burning policemen houses and stoning cars. They also stabbed a policeman
- 6,000 people attended Diradeng’s funeral in the morning of the 14th February 1986, however police decided to tear gas and shoot the mourners leading to outrage
- 40,000 citizens rallied at Alexandra Stadium and went to war with the police and army for six days, creating the ‘Six Day War’, leading to many police fleeing or leaving, with around 27 citizens shot by the police
- Although the army ended the Six Day War, Alexandra continued to rebel throughout most of the 1980s and early 1990s
How did the uprisers in Alexandra punish those who refused to boycott the Apartheid Government and who controversially supported this?
Necklacing, Winnie Mandela
What is necklacing
Throwing a tyre over someone’s head, dousing it with petrol and setting it alight
What did Winnie Mandela say about necklacing and in which month
“With our boes of matches and our necklaces we shall liberate this country” - April 1986
Did the UDF support the uprisers in Alexandra in 1986 and why
No, they were too excessive in their violence
How did the government respond to uprisings in the early to mid 1980s?
In June 1985 Botha declared a state of emergency and sent troops into the townships
From 1985-1986, how many activists were detained by the army?
25,000
What were police tactics from 1980 onwards to suppress opposition
- Mass arrests
- kidnappings
- torture leading to death
- attempting to turn opposition leaders into ANC informants
How do we know about the illegal activities of the Apartheid Government during the 1980s and early 90’s?
It was exposed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
What were police numbers in the following years:
1981
1991
1994
1981: 49,000
1991: 93,600
1994: 140,000
Who was leader of the IFP from 1975-2019
Chief Buthelezi
Where was the IFP most successful in the 1980s
KwaZulu-Natal
Who did IFP affiliates enter violent conflict for much of the 1980s
Transkeians
Who was Kaiser Matanzima
Leader of Transkei
What law did Matanzima pass giving him near unlimited power
1977 Public Safety Act
What 3 things were banned under Matanzima’s rule
Methodist Church, ANC, PAC
What happened in 1987 in Transkei and what was its impact
A coup overthrew the Transkei government which led to the unbanning of the Methodist Church, ANC and PAC and marked a shift away from a Transkei government complicit in Apartheid
Name 3 people attempted assassinated / injured by the Apartheid Government in the early 1980s and how
Ruth First killed by a parcel bomb in Mozambique
Jeannette Curtis killed by parcel bomb in Angola
Albie Sachs severely injured by a car bomb in Mozambique
Who are SWAPO
The political party of the Namibian Independence Movement (still in power today)
What was established by the SA government to suppress SWAPO, what did they do and when was it founded
Koevoet (Crowbar) - 1979
Used brutality to attack both members and civilian supporters of SWAPO, and also captured and tortured ANC and MK members
Who were the Belligerents in the Angolan Civil War before 1991 (relevant to the course)
MPLA party + Cuba vs UNITA party + SA
Who advocated to end Cuban and SA involvement in Angola
Mikhail Gorbachev
What was the outcomes of the Tripartite Accord 1988 for South Africa?
- SA removed their forces from Angola
- SA agreed to make moves towards Namibian Independent
When was the first Namibian election (month) and what was the outcome?
November 1989, SWAPO won with 57% of the vote
When did Namibia achieve full independence (year)
1990
Where was Mandela moved to after Robben Island and in what year?
Pollsmoor Prison, 1982
Who else of significance was moved to Pollsmoor in 1982?
Walter Sisulu
Why was Mandela and Sisulu moved to Pollsmoor?
To try to divide them in a prison and to give them better treatment so the government got less backlash
What changed for Mandela in terms of freedom at Pollsmoor
He was allowed more visitors including people from the USA and UK, and got more access to information about the outside world
Who was the verligte Minister of Justice during Mandela’s time at Pollsmoor
Kobie Coetsee
What initial offer did Botha make Mandela about his release and when? What did Mandela say?
In January 1985, Botha offered to release Mandela if Mandela renounced the use of violence and armed struggle, as well as renouncing any political movements supporting this. Mandela refused
How was Mandela’s message of refusal to Botha’s prison release offer broadcast
Mandela’s daughter Zinzi read the message out as a UDF Rally of 8,000 in Soweto
What was the difference between Mandela’s refusal to give in to Botha’s demands and other ANC members’ refusals
Mandela was willing to negotiate which the others disagreed with
Where was Mandela moved in 1985
He was moved into a private flat (still imprisoned)
What were the first two major talks in 1985 and 1986 respectively
- Mandela was taken out of prison for a 3 hour meeting with Kobie Coetsee to discuss demands
- The Broederbond and ANC representatives met for discussions in NY
What year did the Dutch Reformed Church change its stance to an anti-Apartheid one
1986
How many meetings with government committees did Mandela have from 1988-89
47
What were the main two government issues they discussed with Mandela
Armed Struggle and links with Communism
What were the opposing stances towards full democracy between the ANC and NP
ANC wanted full democract (likely to result in a win for black people)
NP did not as it didn’t protect the white minority
Give an example of government repression towards opposition movements in 1988
Used emergency regulations to ban the UDF and 16 other organisations from publicly campaigning
What trade union emerged in 1985 as the most organised and sustained opposition movement out of the UDF
COSATU (Congress of SA Trade Unions)
Why was COSATU so crucial in the anti-Apartheid movement from 1989
As SA legislation had effectively banned the UDF, COSATU became a loophole for UDF members to voice their opinions
What was the name of the alliance between the UDF and COSATU
Mass Democratic Movement (MDM)
How many workers took part in the 1988-89 COSATU stayaways and how successful were they
2.5-3 million people - very successful as they damaged white businesses and minimised arrests that came with more violent demonstrations
When was the new Defiance Campaign and who organised it
Organised by the MDM in August 1989
Name 3 MDM activities in the new Defiance Campaign
- Presented themselves for treatment at white-only hospitals
- Visited white-only beaches
- 80,000 marched in the town of Uitenhage
Why did Botha resign from the Presidency in September 1989
He suffered from a stroke which limited his ability to run the country
Describe the outcome of the September 1989 elections
NP won but with only 48% of votes and 94 seats - their worst performance in many years
Why was the USA much more anti-Apartheid by 1989
The USSR was falling apart by this point and the USA didn’t rely on an anti-communist country like NP SA in Africa any more
When was Sisulu and other key ANC prisoners released from prison?
October 1989
Why were anti-Apartheid negotiations inevitable?
If white oppression continued a civil war looked set to break out and most white people didn’t really support Apartheid as a formal policy any more - a civil war simply wasn’t worth it.
What did de Klerk do in Feburary 1990?
Made an address announcing the unbanning of political parties like the ANC, and releasing any political prisoners who were in jail just for being part of a banned party, including Mandela
When was de Klerk’s opening speech to the parliament announcing the unbanning of parties like the ANC and the freeing of Mandela (day)
2nd February 1990
Upon Mandela’s release, how many attended his event in Soweto
120,000
In what month did Mandela visit London for a second concert to make a speech and what was the global televised audience
April 1990, 500 million global viewers
Why were the ANC opposed to Mandela meeting Margaret Thatcher
She was opposed to the liberation movements, opposed to sanctions and she supported opposition politicians like Chief Buthelezi
When did Mandela meet Thatcher and why
July 1990 - He believed it was vital to meet with opponents and try to explain his point of view
When was Mandela formally elected as ANC leader after Tambo became ill (month)
July 1991
Who did Mandela elect secretary general and why was this significant
Cyril Ramaphosa, trade unionist. It was designed to incorporate the UDF and COSATU into the ANC
What month was the last UDF meeting
August 1991
What was the issue with disbanding the UDF
It weakened grassroots political organisation within South Africa as the UDF was needed to coordinate political decisions
What was the replacement of the UDF and how successful was it
SANCO (South African National Civic Organisation) but it was weak and disorganised
Who was responsible for attracting many young people to the ANC through his work in the SA Youth Congress and his public speaking
Peter Mokaba
What years were the ANC Youth League active are why was there a break
1944-1960
1987-Present
There was an extended break as the organisation faded whilst in exile after the Unlawful Organisations Act
What did Mandela state at a speech in Transkei in 1990? and what was the intended effect?
Tribal chiefs who were dependent on the homeland system or were reliant on Apartheid would still have a place in power as long as they supported anti-Apartheid
This was to increase ANC support amongst chief and rural areas generally
What act did de Klerk revoke in June 1990
Separate Reservation of Amenities Act
What was an example of an area that was allowed to desegregate in June 1990
Hillbrow, an area of highrise flats just north of Johannesburg
What did ANC do in order to increase government cooperation in August 1990
Suspend armed struggle
What conflict was there between the NP and ANC in June 1990
The NP arrested key membes of the CP and MK which was contradictory to their unbanning of political parties. When the ANC argued against this, the NP said the ANC hadn’t suspended the armed struggle as Operation Vula was still active so they didn’t have to keep their end of the bargain
What was Operation Vula and why did the ANC keep it going despite agreeing to suspend the armed struggle
It was an underground operation started in 1988 designed to increase MK membership and supply weaponry. The ANC kept it going as they didn’t use the MK for violence after their agreement and they felt the need to stay prepared in case negotiations broke down
What was the main reason for the breakdown of the early negotiations
DIsagreements between Mandela and de Klerk about repsonsibility for violence within black communities.
There were frequent conflicts between ANC and IFP supporters, and despite Mandela and Buthelezi agreeing on an accord, nothing stopped.
Mandela then accused de Klerk of having a secret ‘third force’, meaning a secret government force which orchestrated black on violence. Evidence emerged proving the ‘third force’ to be real which led Mandela to cease negotiations.
What 3 acts did de Klerk revoke in June 1991 in order to try and convince the ANC to continue negotiations
Population Registration Act
Natives Land Act
Group Areas Act
Why were there tensions between the ANC, IDF and NP in June 1991 in terms of negotiations
ANC had lost trust in de Klerk
NP found ANC uncompromising
IFP thought they were being asked to give up too much
What does CODESA stand for
Convention for a Democratic SA
When was the first CODESA meeting (day) and where
21st December 1991
in the World Trade Center Johannesburg (neutral environment)
What was unique about the CODESA meetings
It did not have any external mediators and it involved a wide range of political parties to ensure every minority got a say
Why did Mandela and de Klerk have a feud in the opening CODESA ceremony
Mandela let de Klerk speak last (the best time) in order to cement goodwill, but de Klerk took advantage to immediately lambast ANC for failing to disband the MK. Mandela was so angry he went onto the stage himself and condemned de Klerk for misusing Mandela’s goodwill
What 5 things were agreed between December 1991 and March 1992 at CODESA
-SA would be a single undivided country
-It would be multi-party democracy
-There would be a bill of rights
-Separation of powers (executive, legislative and judiciary would all be distinct)
-An end to racial discrimination
What was the difference in the envisaged government system between the NP and ANC
The NP were insistent on some form of power sharing whilst the ANC wanted a full transfer of power to the elected government
What was the difference in the envisaged government system between the IFP and ANC
The IFP wanted a federal system so they could have more autonomy in their own areas whilst the ANC preferred a unitary system
What is a federal system and a unitary system
A federal system is one where political power is highly devolved to provinces, regions or states
A unitary system is one where the central government has more power over the whole country
Why would the IFP want a federal system and the ANC a unitary system
The IFP had a good chance of winning in Zulu areas like KwaZulu-Natal but had almost no chance at a national scale - they wanted a federal system to consolidate IFP power in their majority areas
The ANC were likely to win the national vote so would want a unitary system as it gives them the most power over the most places
When was CODESA 1 suspended
early 1992
What significant referendum took place in 1992 regaridng CODESA
A white-only referendum by de Klerk which asked white citizens if they supported CODESA talks and therefore the implied end of Apartheid
What was the result of de Klerk’s white only referendum and why is this significant
69% voted to continue CODESA - this was significant as it showed white people had finally mostly turned their back on Apartheid
What did the ANC think of de Klerk’s 1992 referendum
They publicly opposed it as it excluded black people and made white people look like the reason for the end of Apartheid, but they were happy with the result of the vote
When did CODESA 2 assemble and why did it break down a month later
It assembled in May 1992 but was suspended in june 1992 due to the outbreak all over the country that undermined negotiations
Give two examples of violence during the CODESA talks
17th June 1992 Boipatong Massacre - IFP supporters (possibly encouraged by the Third Force) attacked ANC supporters, killing 45
Independent ruler had successfully led a coup in Ciskei to take power - an ANC march of 80,000 protested this and Gqozo’s troops shot at protestors, killing 29 and injuring 200. The SA Defence Force were present but did not intervene in the massacre
What had PAC done since being unbanned in terms of strategy and popularity
Their military wing (renamed from Poqo to APLA) hadn’t stopped the armed struggle and attacked many white civilian targets, including a pub in the Eastern Cape which killed 5 civilians. However, their tactics were unpopular with Africans by this point and attracted little support
Which ANC and NP leaders formed close bonds which enabled the continuation of negotations at the start of 1993
Cyril Ramaphosa and Roelf Meyer
What major event nearly disrupted negotiations in 1993 and how was this disruption averted
Major ANC member and MK and CP leader Chris Hani was assassinated in April 1993 by far right renegates (of English and Polish descent), which looked set to cause a mass armed uprising, but Mandela made a speech telling people to stay calm and not revolt
What white supremacist and Neo-Nazi group tried to disrupt Apartheid by threatening violent reprisals
AWB
Name an example of AWB action against Apartheid
The Storming of the Kempton Park World Trade Centre (25th June 1993) - 3,000 AWB members broke into the World Trade Centre in Johannebsurg and threatened delegates, urinated on furniture and painted slogans on the walls, leading to 700,000 Rand of damage
What was established to take up the agreements reached at CODESA in April 1993
Multi-Party Negotiating Forum
What month did the Multi-Party Negotiating Forum set a date for democratic elections in
April 1994
When was an interim consitution established (month)
November 1993
What Nobel Prizes were given out to South Africans in the 1980s and 1990s and why was this significant
Mandela and de Klerk (joint)
Albert Luthuli
Desmond Tutu
this shows the global significant and importance of the end of Apartheid
What was the result of the compromised transition period agreed between the major parties after the 1994 elections
The ANC would incorporate all parties with over 5% of the vote into an interim government of National Unity so that the shift in government was not so extreme to cause violence (for 5 years)
What compromise made by the ANC made a lot of white people much happier about the CODESA negotiations
The ANC agreed to the protection of property which meant white families that had benefitted off Apartheid could keep their generational wealth
Who controlled the precedure of the 1994 election
Independent Electoral Commission
What % of votes did the ANC get in the 1994 election
63%
What % of votes did the NP get in the 1994 election
20%
What % of votes did the IFP get in the 1994 election
11%
How were the provinces and homelands altered for the 1994 elections and onwards
Went from 4 provinces and 10 homelands to 9 provinces
What was the distribution of provinces won by each party
ANC - 7
NP - 1 (Western Cape)
IFP - 1 (KwaZulu-Natal)
Why was the result perfect for stability in SA
The ANC won comfortably so there was no power struggle but did also not receive the required 2/3 majority to amend the constitution so weren’t too powerful - this made NP and IFP feel involved
What happened to the NP after the 1994 elections
They decided to abandon the Government of National Unity in 1996, but this lost them their power and their supporters broadly moved to other parties. It dissolved in 1997.
What happened to the IFP ater the 1994 elections
While they stayed involved and remain active to this day, their vote has dwindled and eventually lost control of KwaZulu-Natal in 2004
After the 1994 elections, who became President and who were the 2 deputies
Mandela (P)
Thabo Mleki (DP)
F.W. de Klerk (DP)
What two acts did the ANC pass to try and reverse some of the damage of Apartheid
- Restitution of Land Act (Compensation for the worst removals of land of black people)
- Truth and Reconciliation Act (Investigating the crimes and horrors of Apartheid rule)
What was a famous book by an Anti-Apartheid activist which offered a vision for a racially united and peaceful SA
The Rainbow People of God (1994) - Desmond Tutu
How many people were in COSATU in 1985 and 1994
1985: 460,000
1994: 1.3 million
How did lives improve for Africans economically after 1994
State employment was rapidly Africanised which gave opportunities to hundreds of thousands, but the poorest in society and unemployed did not benefit as much
What did the ANC prioritise spending on after the 1994 elections
- Housing
- Education
- Health
- Welfare
Which countries gave support and acceptance to SA after the 1994 elections
Western democracies, African countries, and Asian powers like India, China and Russia
What 2 sporting events were held in SA after Apartheid ended
1995 Rugby World Cup (SA Won)
1999 Cricket World Cup
What day did SA join the African Union
23rd May 1994
What month did SA join the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
August 1994
How did joining the AU and SADC affect SA’s relations with other African countries?
Improved social, poltical and economic ties with other countries in the continent, when before relations had been fractured
