South Africa: The UDF And Township Revolts

Question 1

What was the political context at the time of township revolts?

Answer 1

-by 1983, many different activists wanted to take a stand against Botha’s proposed reformes
-they were concerned Botha was finding support for his new constitution
-UDF was formed

Question 2

What was the main argument of the UDF?

Answer 2

They argued against Botha’s reforms an for a full democratic South Africa

Question 3

What was the first act of the UDF?

Answer 3

To convince Indian and coloured voters to boycott votes in Botha’s new parliament

Question 4

How successful were the UDF in convincing Indians and coloureds to boycott Botha’s new parliament?

Answer 4

• very successful: only 13% of Indians and 18% of coloured votes actually voted in elections
• it meant the 2 parliaments were unable to operate as a representative bodies
• showed the lack of support for the tricarneral system
  -showed the failure of Botha’s reforms

Question 5

When was the UDF set up?

Answer 5

1983

Question 6

How many members did the UDF have?

Answer 6

3 million members
Blacks, Indians and coloureds

Question 7

What was the UDF?

Answer 7

• a non-racial coalition of about 400 civil, church, student,worker and other organisations
• it was not a distinct organisation but an umbrella management of opposition
  -aimed to fight for political representation
  -one of the most important anti-apartheid organisations of the 1980s

Question 8

What did the UDF adopt ?

Answer 8

The freedom charter

Question 9

Explain the strong relationship between the UDF and the ANC

Answer 9

-because of the shared mission statement (Freedom Charter)
-throughout its existence, the UDF demanded the release of imprisoned ANC leaders
-they were never formally attached and the UDF never participated in the armed struggle

Question 10

Why did the UDF have connections with the ANC other than because of the freedom charter

Answer 10

Through Winnie Mandela and Albertina Sisulu who were wives of jailed ANC leaders

Question 11

Where and when did township revolts begin?

Answer 11

In 1984 demonstrations began in Transvaal

Question 12

What was the significance of the demonstrations that began in Transvaal in 1984?

Answer 12

It marked the start of the longest and most widespread period of black resistance to white rule

Question 13

How many people had been killed in political violence by the end of 1984?

Answer 13

150

Question 14

How many people were killed in political violence by September 1985 as the revolts spread across the country?

Answer 14

600

Question 15

What caused the initial demonstrations that led to the township revolts?

Answer 15

Local circumstances where bus fares increased for black women

Question 16

What was the role of the UDF in the demonstrations in the township revolts?

Answer 16

-they had no direct role in protests
-they were aware of the social/political problems that affected people
-they mentioned the problems in speeches to get support for national campaigns
-they did not organise major campaigns

Question 17

How was the UDF similar to Steve Biko?

Answer 17

The power was in its ideas

Question 18

When did the UDF begin to get involved in the township revolts?

Answer 18

As a result of police violence and state repression

Question 19

What did the state do as a result of UDF involvement in township revolts?

Answer 19

-they placed a lot of blame for the revolts on the UDF
-they began to arrest & detain UDF leaders in late 1984

Question 20

Who took the lead in the township revolts?

Answer 20

-charterists
-they were more willing to use violent methods of protest

Question 21

What stand of the UDF’s did many supporters not agree with?

Answer 21

Their non violent position
They would rather them be more confrontational

Question 22

Name 3 UDF leaders who came from church background

Answer 22

Desmond Tutu
Allan Boesak
Frank Chikane

Question 23

What did workers in townships do?

Answer 23

Begin to strike

Question 24

How effective were worker strikes in townships?

Answer 24

Very effective with between 300’000 and 800’000 staying home

Question 25

How did the UDF respond to worker strikes?

Answer 25

-they felt they should reconsider its position as it realised it had not acted quickly enough
-they didnt take a lead in riots but a lead and supported the call for a ‘black Christmas’

Question 26

What was the purpose of the black christmas and what was it intended to do?

Answer 26

-to mourn those who had died in revolts and those in detention
-it wasn’t a call for consumer boycotts but for people to show self-sacrifice through not purchasing luxuries and not holding parties in December 1984

Question 27

What was one action the UDF took in playing a bigger role in the townships?

Answer 27

Using funerals as an opportunity to address people

Question 28

What was another form of protest that appeared continually after the Soweto Uprising in 1976?

Answer 28

School boycotts

Question 29

How many children were absent from school in various parts of the country by the end of 1984?

Answer 29

200’000

Question 30

What happened in March 1985 following a “black weekend”?

Answer 30

An explosion of resistance in the Eastern cape
Violence escalated and police killed 20 on their way to a funeral

Question 31

What did the UDF do about the explosion of resistance in march 1985?

Answer 31

They again played no role in

Question 32

What happened as a result of the police killing 20 people on their way to a funeral when there was an explosion of resistance in 1985?

Answer 32

-more riots
-the killing of a councillor and his family
-mass action around the funerals which were attended by between 35000-60000 people

Question 33

After the police killings and the killing of a councillor and his family in 1985, what did the UDF do in response?

Answer 33

-they condemned police violence and called for a day of mourning
-they called for non-violence on the side of the people unless it was ‘defensive violence’

Question 34

What did the government do in response to the explosion of violence in 1985?

Answer 34

-increased their attacks on the UDF and arrested leaders in preparation for a new treason trial
-state stopped UDF & some affiliates from holding indoor meetings
-killing by the security police increased

Question 35

What did the government do in July 1985?

Answer 35

• they imposed a state of emergency
  -sent soldiers to quell resistance in townships

Question 36

How did the UDF respond to the increased police action and government state of emergency?

Answer 36

On 2 levels:
-to build on the ground, democratic “organisations of peoples power”
- to build a united front across all democratic organisations at a national level

Question 37

What did grassroots organisations do in townships?

Answer 37

-began to build their own structures to look at day to day runnings of their lives
-they formed street and block committees
- organised ‘people’s courts’ and even put clean-up crews in place on streets and built peoples parks