South Africa - Mock

Question 1

What was the Soweto Uprising?

Answer 1

A student-led protest that began on June 16 1976 against the imposing of Afrikaans on Bantu schools.

Question 2

Why was teaching in Afrikaans such a big issue, specifically on Soweto?

Answer 2

Afrikaans was a language only used for talking to people such as police officers. Whilst teachers had to know Afrikaans, weren’t fluent enough to teach specialised subjects eg maths and students weren’t required to learn Afrikaans before, therefore making the teaching of these subjects very difficult. The Afrikaans language was also more associated with Apartheid.

Question 3

What was the Afrikaans Medium Decree of 1974?

Answer 3

Forced all black/.bantu schools to use Afrikaans & English 50/50, English - General science, Practical subjects
Afrikaans - Maths, Social studies

Question 4

When was the Soweto uprising? How many Students showed up?

Answer 4

June 16 1976, 20,000, was organised by the Soweto Students Representative Council and had support from the Black Consciousness movement.

Question 5

Was it a peaceful protest or a riot?

Answer 5

A peaceful protest, however due to police barricading the streets on their way to Orlando Stadium, students began to chant & wave placards with slogans like “ To Hell with Afrikaans “

Question 6

What did the Police do?

Answer 6

Released tear gas onto the crowd, and when students began to supposedly throw rocks at them, there are multiple accounts - one being that they released their dogs and that the students became more violent. One live round of ammunition was fired, and soon, the police officers were firing, causing several to get injured and two to die.

Question 7

Who were the first two people to get killed in the Soweto Uprising?

Answer 7

15-year-old Hastings Ndlovu & 12-year-old Hector Pieterson.

Question 8

What followed the 16th of June?

Answer 8

Some students began looting & torched gov buildings & vehicles. Several white South Africans working in the town were targeted. Additional police officers, including paramilitary units, were set into the town with the orders to fire to kill. Anyone going to hospital with a bullet wound were ordered to be arrested. This caused issues in falsifying reports, as doctors would do so to protect their patients. By the time this uprising was finished, the international legitimacy of the South African Government had been harmed, due to circulating photos of black children running from, injured by or killed by police officers.

Question 9

What was the aftermath of the Soweto Uprising?

Answer 9

Later in the year, SA gov appointed a single judge to preside over a commission that was to record & analyze the Soweto Uprising. The Cillié Commission concluded that 575 people had died and 3,907 people were wounded - although this is iffy due to doctors falsifying reports, etc.
Commission blamed neither side, however Gov did go after students that were proven to be part of the protest. No police officers were charged or punished. There was an attempt to charge Winnie Mandela for being part of this protest, as her home was a few blocks away, however there was no proof of this, and therefore the charges were dropped.

Question 10

What was the impact of the Soweto Uprising?

Answer 10

There was an exodus of young people in South Africa and many of the Black Youth joined the ANC. The uprising caused a crisis of legitimacy for the Apartheid Gov. Failure of Police & Paramilitary units to control the violence damaged the gov’s reputation in the eyes of White South Africans, and the violence on children further alienated non-white South Africans. Their reputation was also, obviously, damaged internationally too - the uprising is viewed as important for the dismantling of Apartheid in the early ’90s and the adoption of a new constitution in ‘93. June 16 is now a public holiday in SA.

Question 11

Who was Steve Biko?

Answer 11

The founder of the Black Consciousness Movement. Expelled in high school for political activism. Became involved in the multiracial National Union Of South African Students (NUSAS) in the University of Natal Medical School. Soon grew disenchanted with NUSAS, believing it simply wanted black people to participate in white South African society rather than restructuring it.

Question 12

What student group did Biko cofound?

Answer 12

Black South Africans’ Student Association (SASO)

Question 13

When did Biko become the president of SASO?

Answer 13

1969-1970.

Question 14

What was the Black People’s Convention? What did Biko have to do with it?

Answer 14

An umbrella organization of Black Consciousness Groups, Biko was one of the founders.

Question 15

What did Biko publish in 1975?

Answer 15

Zimele Trust Fund to help other political prisoners.

Question 15

What happened that drew official censure for Biko in 1973?

Answer 15

Him & Other SASO members were banned, restricting their associations, movements & public statements. Had to then operate Covertly.

Question 16

What happened on August 18, 1977?

Answer 16

He & Fellow immigrant was seized at a road block & jailed at Port Elizabeth. He was found naked and shackled outside a hospital in Pretoria, 740 miles away on Sept 11 & died the next day of a massive brain hemorrhage.

Question 17

What was the “ UDF “?

Answer 17

The United Democratic Front

Question 18

What was the UDF’s Goal?

Answer 18

To establish a non-racial, united South Africa with no segregation and no systematic and institutional racism

Question 19

What was the UDF’s slogan?

Answer 19

” UDF Unites, Apartheid divides “

Question 20

Who formed the UDF?

Answer 20

Reverend Allan Boesak

Question 21

How did the UDF form?

Answer 21

formed regional committees, establishing relations with local organizations, eg the Natal UDF - the first committee. At the end of July, there was a 2-day committee meeting, where the organisation was announced to the public.

Question 22

What did the UDF do?

Answer 22

Promoted rent boycotts, school protests, workers stay aways, and a boycott of the tricameral system. In 1989 they sent delegates to the UK & USA to discuss what foreign powers could do about it.

Question 23

What was the Mass Democratic Movement?

Answer 23

In 1989, the UDF and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) began cooperating more closely in a loose alliance called the Mass Democratic Movement, following restrictions on the UDF and COSATU by the apartheid government. The apartheid government described the MDM as a UDF/Cosatu/SACP alliance, although this was disputed by the MDM at the time. The loose nature of the MDM made it difficult for the apartheid government to ban,[33] and the MDM has been described as having been “the UDF in another guise”.

Question 24

What was the Boipatong massacre?

Answer 24

on 17 June 1992 Joe Slovo (an Informal settlement) were attacked by a group of 300~ armed men in Boipatong, South Africa. These men were affiliated with the Inkatha Freedom Party and it was assumed that these attacks were to undermine the negotiations between the National Party and the ANC. 46 alleged ANC supporters were killed & Security forces did nothing to prevent it.

Question 25

Who is the Inkatha Freedom Party?

Answer 25

Founded in 1975 in the Black Homeland of KwaZulu by the then chief Buthelezi. Its purpose was to work against Apartheid & encourage political and cultural aspirations of South African Blacks. Inkatha advocated an evolutionary struggle against Apartheid and declared its willingness to accept special power-sharing arrangements that would fall short of majority rule in a post-apartheid south Africa.

Question 26

What was the result of the Boipatong massacre?

Answer 26

Mandela suspended negotiations with De Klerk in CODESA. 100,000 protesteres led by Mandela outside gov headquarters in Pretoria.

Question 27

What is an example of communal tensions during the early 1990s?

Answer 27

PAC members had been chanting “ one settler, one bullet “

Many feared their livelihood as Africans became more skilled & could openly compete for their jobs.

Question 28

What is the Sunset Clause?

Answer 28

The guarantee of continued employment & pension rights for those nearing retirement.

Question 29

How did the PAC form?

Answer 29

In the ’40s, an Africanist group led by Anton Lembede, Potlako Leballo, A.P Mda & Robert Sobukwe emerged within the ANC. Wanted South Africa returned to its indigenous inhabitants (Africa for the Africans) & unwilling to give equal rights. Group broke away from the ANC in 1958 + in April 1959 formed the PAC.

Question 30

Who was the first leader of the Pan-African congress?

Answer 30

Robert Sobukwe

Question 31

What did the PAC do originally to get its views across?

Answer 31

Originally advocated methods political pressure via strikes & boycotts. March 21 1960, PAC sponsored a nationwide one-day protest against Apartheid. Sobukwe and others were arrested. The PAC was essentially outlawed following the Sharpeville massacre.

Question 32

What Act brought in the Pass Laws?

Answer 32

The Natives Act of 1952 or the Pass Laws Act. Pass laws had existed since the 18th century, when slaves were forced to carry permission documents.

Question 33

What were the purposes of Passes?

Answer 33

A system to control the movement of non-white people in South Africa. Passes were replaced with referenc ebooks in 1952, including detailed info, employment information and evaluations from employers, fingerprints, etc. Every Black man of at least 16 years of age required to carry a reference book at all times.

Question 34

How did people react to the Pass Laws?

Answer 34

Various protests, such as by the ANC Women’s league and the women’s march to Union buildings in August 1956, now commemorated each year as womens’s day. It is what lead to the sharpeville massacres.

Question 35

What happened in Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe that caused issues for Botha?

Answer 35

New Black Governments came into power and re-energized ANC and SWAPO’s campaigns.

Question 36

What did Botha do in response to student & labour unrest as well as the ANC and SWAPO’s energization?

Answer 36

Formed a military policy that included frequent South African raids combined withs upport for Anti-gov groups in border states, seeking to weaken Angolan, Mozambican and Zimbabwean govs. Refused to withdraw from Namibia, though he continued negotiations on questions.

Question 37

What did Botha do to try and ease the issues in South Africa?

Answer 37

Granted “ independence “ to various Black homelands - meant to mollify international public opinion while dividing non-white domestic opposition. A new constitution, granting very limited powers to Asian and “ Coloureds “ but made no concessions to black majority happened due to this independence called the “ Tricameral Parliament “. Right wing of the NP split away in protest forming the Conservative party.

Question 38

Who got elected in Dec 1949 as the leader of the ANC?

Answer 38

Walter Sisulu.

Question 39

What were some events leading up to the Defiance Campaign?

Answer 39

NP followed up with new APartheid laws eg pass laws and amendments to the immorality Act. in 1951 Seperate Representation of Voters bill to remove “ Coloureds “ from common roll enacted. Apartheid policy of nationalist gov was not simply small-scale, it was a process denying political rep and participation of black people.

Question 40

What was the Defiance Campaign?

Answer 40

After success of 6 april the date of start of Defiance Campaign set for 26 June 1952. A “ Day of the volunteers “. On Sun 22 June, volunteers signed a pledge, and the first group (including people such as Manela, Dadoo, Kotane and Sisulu) defied Apartheid laws in Johannesburg & other major city centres. For first time it was a mixed racial political action under common leadership. National action committee (Sisulu) and national Volunteer board (Mandela as volunteer-in-chief) conducted campaign.

Question 41

What happened during the Defiance Campaign?

Answer 41

Acts of defiance accompanied by freedom songs & thumbs-up sign, cries of “ Afrika “ and “ Mayibuye “, cheers from supporting onlookers. 52 Africans & Indians including Sisulu and Mandela marched into Boksburg near Johanessburg without permits & were arrested. In Port Elizabeth, 30 people entered railway station through Europeans Only entrance, or in post offices.

Question 42

What was the Reaction and Significance of the Defiance Campaign?

Answer 42

Offences & Penalties minor, but GOv still concerned and reacted with arrest of Nat leadaers of campaign. All charged under Suppression of Communism Act. Began to be arrested on charges of high treason & tried under indictment that began on 1 Oct 1952.

Campaign did not overturn Apartheid laws, but won nations recognition, Racial policy became a itnernational issue & UN commission established to investigate the situation. More than 8000 people went to jail, saw movement of ANC from moderation to militancy. Demonstrated potential power of African leadership & organisational skill and discipline.

Question 43

What was the Rivonia Trial?

Answer 43

Ten leading opponents of Apartheid went on trial for lives on charges of sabotage in 1963-1964. Mandela made a speech in the dock wher ehe condemned the court as illegitimate, arguing that laws were equally draconian and defiance was justified.

Question 44

Who defended the ANC in the Rivonia Trial?

Answer 44

Joel Joffe

Question 45

What was the National Gov hoping for?

Answer 45

The death penalty

Question 46

What did the ANC get?

Answer 46

Life imprisonment to Robben Island Prison.

Question 47

Who are some key people who were in this trial?

Answer 47

Mandela, Sisulu, Goldberg.

Question 48

When did the Trial end?

Answer 48

12 June 1964.

Question 49

What is the MK?

Answer 49

Umkhonto weSizwe - A paramilitary wing of the ANC founded by Nelson Mandela following the Sharpeville Massacre.

Question 50

Where did Mandela travel to drum up support for MK & arrange military training for potential recruits?

Answer 50

Algeria, Nigeria, Tunisia & Ethiopia

Question 51

What happened that was related to the Liliesleaf farmhouse?

Answer 51

On 11 July 1963 the farmhouse was raided finding a group fo men studying Operation Mayibuye - an MK proposal for guerilla warfare. Among the group were Sisulu, Mbheki, Goldberg, etc. Mandela was lateradded following suspicion that he was linked to th efarm. He was already serving a five-year sentence during this.