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 / assassinated 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)
