The road to Democracy Flashcards
When did the philosophy of apartheid begin to change and why?
- In the late 1980’s
- Because PW Botha introduced a new concept which he called “Total onslaught - Total strategy”
What was the concept of PW Bothas new strategy?
Total repression in the face of the so-called communist onslaught which he mixed with another strategy of “REFORM” - allowance of certain liberties in order to gain the support of the black middle class.
When did it become apparent that the NP was in a crisis and why were they in a crisis?
- In 1989
- New strategy not working
- The situation in the townships indicated that SA was heading towards a civil war
- Proved that mixing repression with reform was a failure
When and why did PW Botha hand over his Prime Minister-ship and to who?
- In 1989
- He suffered a heart attack
- F.W. De Klerk
What was the situation in 1990?
- NP still in power
- Black people had no vote
- ANC banned and leaders in exile or jail
When was FW De Klerk’s opening address to Parliament?
2nd of February 1990
What changes did De Klerk announce in his opening address?
- Unbanning of the ANC, PAC, Communist Party and others
- Release of political prisoners
- Easing of restrictions, bannings and censorship
- Suspension of the death penalty
- Willingness to negotiate change - new democratic constitution
What was the reaction of De Klerks Policy of Transformation?
- People were surprised
- Broad range of people welcomed it (nationally & internationally)
- Condemned by the right wing Afrikaner politics, the Conservative Party and the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB)
What were the reasons for change in the NP policies?
- NP wanted to control pace of change and retain some power
- NP believed that ANC was weak - banned for 30 years
- “Township revolt” - strength of resistance -> the security forces could not fight the resistance movement indefinitely
- Defeat of SA forces in Angola -> govt. had to re-assess military strength
- Collapse of communism in the USSR -> idea of total onslaught no longer valid
- Economic effects of sanctions and disinvestment on SA
- Disruptions in education and legacy of Bantu education -> growing shortage of skilled workers
What was Nelson Mandela’s position before De Klerks announcements?
- Secret meetings had been occurring between Nelson Mandela and the govt since 1985 –> he rejected offers of conditional release
- He remained in jail
When was Nelson Mandela released and what did he do after being released?
- Released on the 11th of February 1990
- 27 years in jail
- Addressed meetings in Cape Town and Soweto
- Flew to Lusaka to meet ANC leaders -> elected deputy president of ANC
- Stressed ANCs commitment to negotiate with govt.
- Welcomed in 13 African, European and North American countries
- Urged Western leaders to maintain sanctions until process to democracy assured
What obstacles faced the ANC before negotiations about constitutional changes could take place?
- Banned for 30 years -> needed to build up structures in SA
- Differences in opinion among ANC leaders over ideology and tactics –> possible clashes between returning exiles and leaders in SA
- Expectations of millions impatient for change
What obstacles faced the NP before negotiations about constitutional changes could take place?
- Lost support to Conservative Party and AWB - supporters afraid or angry at De Klerk’s concessions
- Members of security forces were suspected of being sympathetic to the right wing
- Some NP leaders wanted to retain its powerful position in alliance with Inkatha
How did the situation in the townships present itself as an obstacle?
- Poverty and unemployment were reaching desperate levels
- Violent clashes between Inkatha and ANC supporters increasing
- Suspicions of ‘third force’ involvement of police promoting violence.
When were the first round of talks scheduled to happen? And why didn’t they happen?
- April 1990
- Called off because of the Sebokeng Killings
- -> The Goldstone Commission was appointed to investigate killings and the govt. were forced to make concessions
- Troops were sent to Natal to stop the violence and indemnity was given to ANC exiles involved in the negotiations
When and where did the first official round of talks take place?
- Groote Schuur
- Cape Town
- 2 May 1990
What was the aim, issues and outcome of the Groote Schuur Minute?
- AIM - identify and overcome the obstacles to negotiation
- ISSUES -Security legislation; troops in the townships; state of emergency; ongoing violence; political prisoners; return of exiles; continuation of the armed struggle; sanctions
- OUTCOME - agreement reached on most issues
When and where did the next round of talks take place?
- Pretoria
- 6 August 1990
What happened at the Pretoria Minute?
-ANC agreed to suspend armed struggle in SA and govt agreed to lift the state of emergency = DF Malan Accord
BUT OBSTACLES CONTINUED:
-Failed to stop violence between Inkatha and ANC supporters
-Activities of “third force” caused tension and terror
-Evidence of secret funding of Inkatha -> sincerity of govt to establish democratic country was doubted
What were the fundamental differences over who should draw up a constitution between the ANC and NP?
- ANC wanted majority rule –> constitution drawn up by democratically elected constituent assembly
- Govt. wanted some form of power sharing –> to protect the interest and role of NP + concerned about rights of minorities
When did the first round of talks about the constitution take place and what was the multi-party conference referred to?
- December 1991
- Formed CODESA to draw up an interim constitution
What was the state of CODESA I?
- 19 groups included ANC, NP, Inkatha and the delegates of homelands represented
- Conservative Party, PAC and AZAPO boycotted it
- Parties agreed that writing of constitution would be in two stages:
- ->Interim constitution to be drafted by multi-party conference
- ->Final constitution to be drafted by first elected parliament
What was the outcome of CODESA I?
- Participants signed a “Declaration of Intent” - committing themselves to a multi-party democracy and to set up working groups to continue discussions on specific issues
- Played a significant role in laying down the foundation for multi-racial discussions
Why was the NP losing the support of the conservative white people?
- Opposition to removal of apartheid laws
- The ongoing violence in the country
- Return of political exiles
- Participation of South African Communist Part (SACP) leaders (Joe Slovo) in the negotiations
- Threat to white interests of CODESA talks - many hope that the CP and AWB would protect Afrikaner interests
What happened to De Klerk in 1992 and what did he do because of it?
- Lost a seat to the CP in a by-election
- Decided to test the Np’s support amongst the white voters in a referendum [17 March 1992]
What was the outcome of the “Whites only referendum” ?
70% of white electorate voted in favour of continuing reforms
When did CODESA II take place and what mistake did the govt make?
- 15 May 1992
- NP took a tougher line due to having won clear support from the white electorate in the referendum
Why did talks collapse at CODESA II?
- Disagreement on majority rule and power-sharing
- ANC became suspicious about govt’s role in the ongoing violence –> govt. deliberately stirring up hatred and violence between ANC and Inkatha –> 3rd force? –> media portrayed it as ‘black-on-black’ violence
- News of the Boipatong massacre increased the tension
- ANC called for a campaign of ‘mass action’ to put pressure on the govt. to agree on some of its demands
What was the state of SA by the middle of 1992?
- Difficult situation
- Spirit of goodwill and optimism = gone
- Violence increased
- Fears of a civil war
When was the Boipatong Massacre and what happened?
- June 1992
- ANC members attending a funeral were attacked in their homes and killed by Inkatha supporting hostel dwellers
- Police were believed to have allowed, or even encouraged massacre
What were the results of the Boipatong Massacre?
- ANC broke of negotiations with govt
- International concern -> pressure on De Klerk from Western Powers
- Goldstone Commission -> confirmed suspicions about police involvement
- UN observers sent to monitor the political separation
- ANC, SACP and COSATU launched campaign of ‘rolling mass action’ which involved a two-day general strike by millions of workers.
Why did the Bisho Shootings occur in September 1992 and what was the result?
- ANC planned a protest march from King William’s Town to Bisho, the capital of the Ciskei to protest against homeland govt of Brigadier Oupa Gqoso.
- Ciskei troops fired on the marchers, killed number of unarmed people and injured over 200 more.
- RESULT: Both the ANC and Govt realised that it was crucial that talks between them should be resumed
What was the reaction of the AWB to CODESA?
- Spoke openly of resorting to violence
- In 1991 fighting in the streets of Ventersdorp between police and AWB gunmen when the AWB tried to prevent FW de Klerk from addressing a NP meeting.
- More visible in 1993 Centre where talks about new constitution were in progress
- They were however unsuccessful and made the main parties realised the need to reach agreement.
What was the record of understanding?
- As the result of intense “behind-the-scenes” negotitations between Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC) and Roelf Meyer (NP), the two sides met on 26 September 1992 and signed record of understanding
- -> a commitment to resolve differences
- Paved a way for CODESA to be resumed
What concessions were the ANC and NP prepared to make to ensure that talks resumed?
Government: -Agreed to release political prisoners
- To erect fences around hostels
- Ban the use of ‘traditional weapons’
ANC: - agreed to govt of ‘national unity’
- NP included for first 5 years under the new constitution
- -> This compromise solution, suggested by the SACP leader, Joe Slovo, provided the break through that was needed to get negotiations going again = The Sunset Clause
What was COSAG?
- An unlikely alliance formed by the left out parties on the 6th of October 1992
- The Concerned South African Group
- -> Homeland governments of Ciskei and Bophuthatswana, Conservative party, and the Afrikaner Volksunie
Who was Chris Hani and what happened to him?
- He was a popular ANC and SACP leader
- Assasinated by right-wing extremist Janusz Walus, who had links to the Conservative Party
- Hani played a key role in getting the more militant youth to accept the negotiating process
- After his death it seemed as if all progress had lost –> it led to angry township demonstrations and increase in racial tensions
When and where did multi-party talks resume?
- A year after the collapse of CODESA 2 April 1993
- At the World Trade Centre in Johannesburg
- Became known as the “Negotiating Forum”
What did the Negotiating forum include and what happened?
- Included the PAC and Conservative Party
- By the end of July the negotiators agreed that SA’s first democratic elections would be held on 27 April 1994
What issues were not resolved at the Negotiating Forum?
- Buthelezi (Inkatha) challenged some of the decisions in court
- The Conservative Party withdrew because there were no provisions for a volkstaat
- Bophuhatswana and Ciskei also withdrew
When was an agreement on the interim constitution decided and what were the conditions?
- November 1993
- National Assembly of 400 representatives elected by proportional representation
- 9 provinces
- Senate with 10 representatives from each province
- President to be elected by National Assembly
- National Assembly and Senate to form constitutional assembly to draft final constitution
- Govt. of National Unity for five years
- Establishment of Constitutional Court
What were the plans for the first democratic election?
- Vote for all over 18
- Date set for 27 April 1994
What attempts were there to disrupt elections?
- APLA (armed wing of PAC) launched attacks on civilians (e.g. St. James Church massacre) -> PAC finally agreed to end armed struggle
- Right-wing Afrikaners launched bombing campaign in Johannesburg, incl. bomb at Joburg Airport on day of election and AWB invaded Bophuthatswana
- Inkatha march in Joburg near ANC headquarters -> violent clashes between Inkatha and ANC
- Buthelezi threatened to boycott election -> only agreed to participate one week before it
What was SA’s first democratic election like?
- Attempts to disrupt election failed
- 27-29 April 1994: 20 million voted in first democratic election
- IEC had to ensure that it was free and fair
- Foreign govts and organisations also sent observers
- Ballot papers designed to ensure all could participate
- Counting of votes took over a week
What was the result of the election?
ANC - 63%
NP - 20%
IFP - 11%
What was the pre-election agreement for the Government of National Unity (GNU):?
- A coalition govt. for first 5 years
- All parties with 5% of votes to be part of it
What was the GNU like?
First cabinet included 12 ANC, 6 NP and 3 IFP members
- Mandela first president
- Mbeki and De Klerk deputy presidents
- IFP leader, Buthelezi, Minister of Home affairs
- SA joined OAU and SADC
- Re-joined commonwealth
- Became important member of Non-Aligned Movement
- UN lifted arms embargo; SA participated again in General Assembly
What economic challenges did the GNU face?
- Effects of sanctions
- huge debts of apartheid govt
- Low economic growth rates
- High inflation and taxation rates
- Massive unemployment of unskilled workers
What economic and social inequalities resulting from apartheid did the GNU face?
- Great poverty
- Millions lacked basic services and schools
- With democracy, people expected jobs, housing and better education plus healthcare services but govt couldnt deliver these without real economic growth.
What new structure of local and provincial govt needed challenges did the GNU face?
- Former homelands to be incorporated into 9 new provinces
- Civil service and police force to be restructured
- New national defence force (SANDF) to integrate MK, APLA guerrillas, former homeland armies and the SADF
- Education system to be restructured
What problems in the townships did the GNU face?
- Legacy of preotest politics -> non-payment of rent and services
- High levels of violence and crime
What underlying issues of fundamental importance did the GNU face?
- How to deal with the past (i.e. legacy of apartheid and inequalities)
- How to face the future (i.e. national reconciliation and nation building)
What were the provisions in the pre-election agreement?
- Interim constitution (until after 1994 election)
- Final constitution (to be drawn up by first parliament)
- National assembly and senate to form Constitutional Assembly
Input from ordinary people were wanted by what problems occurred?
- Many illiterate rural people, with no access to TV
- No tradition of consultation between govt and citizens
- many didnt recognize importance of constitution
–>Massive media campaign to inform people and invite input -> public meetings; workshops and written submissions
What was the impact of the new constitution?
May 1996: New Constitution adopted
- SA a ‘constitutional democracy’
- Constitutional Court to protect and uphold constitution
- Bill of rights
Millions of copies of constitution distributed in 11 official languages and written in ordinary language
What happened with the break up of the GNU?
- May 1996: NP withdrew -> became part of opposition
- De Klerk stepped down as deputy president -> retired from politics
- NP later disbanded
- Inkatha remained part of GNU (even after 5 years)
What were the achievements of GNU?
- Showed how democracy could work in SA
- Adopted constitution based on human rights
- Established mechanisms to deal with the legacy of past
