The role of Oliver Tambo Flashcards
What did Tambo manage to do during the State of Emergency in 1960 SA?
What did he effectively become for the ANC from doing this?
How long did he remain this for?
-During the State of Emergency in 1960 Tambo managed to escape and set up headquarters in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
-Tambo effectively became the international ‘face’ of the ANC, its global ambassador.
-He reamined its acting president until the death of Chief Luthuli in 1967.
What strategy did Tambo develop?
What was rate of progress did this strategy have?
Was the organisation retainable? What did he address to allow for this?
-Tambo developed the two-pronged strategy of military conflict and the development of mass political organisation.
-Progress was slow.
-He did keep the organisation intact and provided a unifying figure- for example, addressing the mutinies in which frustratedd recruits sought to return to SA.
What accusations did Tambo see important to counter regarding the ANC?
Who would he meet with to do this?
Who did he meet with in the 1980s in the face of Reagan’s aggressive stance against communism?
Where did Tambo give evidence which led to a British delegation being sent to SA to investigate the state of apartheid?
-Tambo saw the need to counter the accusations emanating from SA bout the ANC’s relationship with communism.
-To this end he would meet regularly with influential figures to explain the ANC position and assure where necessary that the ANC supported capitalist development.
-Tambo met with representatives of US multinational companies in the early 1980s in the fact of Reagan’s aggressive stance against communism.
-Tambo gave evidence to a British House of Commons committee which led to a British delegation being sent. Their report was critical and supported sanctions.
When did the ANC begin infiltrating guerrilla fighters into SA?
When was this made easier?
However what was the ANC never strong enough to do?
What was still beneficial regarding this method?
-The ANC began infiltrating guerilla fighters into SA from the early 1970s.
-This was made easier when their neighbours won their independence and could be used as a springboard for attacks.
-However, the ANC was never strong enough militarily to threaten the apartheid regime.
-Although the persistence of conflict could weaken it in tandem with other factors, and did lead to huge military commitment which drained the economy.
What various attacks were committed by the MK during the mid-1970s?
What were they often planned in accordance with? (Soekmekaar?)
What was the strenght of the militaristic actions by MK rather than large scale effect?
What attack of large scale however did they commit against a military base near Pretoria?
-MK attacks included sabotage of railways and industrial plants, attacks on gov’t offices and assassinations, particularly of those accussed of collaborating.
-Often they were planned to tie in with local concerns, such as an attack on a police station at Soekmekaar at a time when local people were angry about forced removals.
-Their strength was in their persistence rather than large scale effect.
-Although there was a rocket attack on a military base near Pretoria.
Where did the ANC and other anti-apartheid movements gain encouragement from?
What were the stance of international Western gov’t towards SA?
What were the exceptions?
-The ANC and other anti-apartheid movements gained encouragement from the global anti-apartheid movement. It covered many countries where people organised rallies and public events to show their opposition to the regime.
-Gov’t were often lukewarm, reluctant to offend SA and wary of the ANC ties with communism and military activities.
-Exceptions I.E. India maintained close ties with the ANC and Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden provided aid and support.
What did the AAM in Britain promote?
Where else had similar organisations?
What did Popular Support in the USA lead Congress to do in 1986?
What did this override?
-AAM movement in Britain promoted boycotts and sanctions.
-There was also encouragement from organisations in Holland and Canada.
-Popular support in the USA led Congress to impose sanctions in 1986, overriding President Reagan’s Veto.
