Why Did South Africa Become A Republic In 1961 and the radicalisation of the PAC and ANC

Question 1

Macmillan’s wind of change speech motivation

Answer 1

1960
Visit in part to confirm British decision to decolonise more broadly, celebrate African self govt, strengthen commonwealth ties
Attempt to keep on side during Cold War
Aware of aggressive defence of the empire after Suez Crisis

Question 2

Content of the wind of change speech

Answer 2

Praise SA
progress as a result of British investment
Emphasised independence of each economy
Present African nationalism as natural

Question 3

Establishing a republic

Answer 3

Narrow majority in favour
Black opposition parties rejected the move, done without majority of population
Link with Britain and commonwealth remained important part of identity
Became republic on 31 May 1961

Question 4

Results of becoming a republic

Answer 4

New decimal currency, called the Rand
Symbolic changes
‘Royal’ removed from names of organisations and institutions
Arguably not a significant effect

Question 5

Leaving the commonwealth

Answer 5

March 1961 special commonwealth conference called to consider SAs position in commonwealth
Asian and African heads against remaining of SA if they continued Ap.
SA leaves commonwealth as refused to have diplomatic representations

Question 6

International relations after leaving the Commonwealth

Answer 6

UK was a major location for those fleeing SA
British Anti Apartheid Movement (AAM) became global focus for opposition
SA strategically and economically important for GB

Question 7

Conservative Monday Club

Answer 7

Conservative Party Monday Club in opposition to wind of change, thought undermined party’s commitment to empire

Question 8

Economic importance of SA for GB

Answer 8

Gold supplies important

Supplies of uranium for nuclear weapons and power stations

Question 9

UN action against SA

Answer 9

ANC called sanctions first in 1959
1962 UN pass voluntary resolution to ban imports and exports
1963 arms embargo- taken by British Labour Party in 1964

Question 10

What prompted moves to an armed struggle?

Answer 10

1960 Banning of movements, inability to operate peacefully
Recent examples of armed revolutions in China (40s) and Cuba (59)
Had to be cautious due to treason trial

Question 11

South African Communist Party radicalisation

Answer 11

First to adopt armed struggle in principle

Question 12

ANC armed struggle

Answer 12

June 1961 explicitly decided on an armed struggle
Some members against violence out of principle or felt ANC wasn’t ready
Thought would open them to a harsher reality

Question 13

ANC and uMkhonto weSizwe

Answer 13

Zulu for ‘Spear of the Nation’
Independent military wing in support of liberation movement- protect leaders and as ANC weren’t fully in favour
Target strategic sites such as communications posts and power units rather than loss of life

Question 14

MK and communists

Answer 14

Links proved to be important
Soviet Union made largest financial contribution
Other connections provided training and education

Question 15

Mk act of sabotage

Answer 15

16 Dec 1961

Public holiday of Dingaans Day (celebration of Boer victory)

Question 16

PAC and Poqo

Answer 16

Inspired by Mau Mau in Kenya- fear it instilled in whites
PAC leader Robert Sobukwe kept in prison and unable to influence
Movement among migrant workers
Justified violence against whites

Question 17

Actions of Poqo

Answer 17

Paarl march kills two whites and five protestors 1962
Not committed to selective sabotage
Violent murder of family 1963

Question 18

Rivonia trial

Answer 18

63-64
Mandela and MK leaders were tried at Pretoria Supreme Court in Johannesburg
Accused of recruiting fighters, attempting to commit sabotage. Having links with communist organisations, soliciting money from foreign states

Question 19

Outcomes of Rivonia Trial

Answer 19

Life imprisonment
Sobukwe already incarcerated on Robben Island
Not significant at the time particularly
‘Free angels on Mandela’ in the 80s
Neutralised Mandela and communication was censored and limited, unable to lead MK

Question 20

Oliver Tambo

Answer 20

In exile 1960
Traveled widely in Europe and Africa
External mission established to salvage movement and gain international support

Question 21

Segal

Answer 21

Anti apartheid activist in London

Editor of penguin African library

Question 22

Tambo and the UN

Answer 22

Invited to address UN (recognised ANC and PAC) in NY
Focus on political prisoners
Soviet Union secure significant funding and Swedish contributions
Resolution for release of leaders

Question 23

ANC by the end of 1963

Answer 23

Few active members of African political leadership still free 
Avoided sentence 
In exile 
Accepted as too dangerous
 Organisation is hard

Question 24

Anti Apartheid Movement (AAM)

Answer 24

Founded in 1960
Global movement
Central figures in Britain were those of the Anglican Church, Huddleston/ Reeves

Question 25

Who was attracted to AAM and why?

Answer 25

Christians: against teaching of all men created equal
Activists against colonialism
Liberal and labour politicians: against general white rule

Question 26

Boycotts of AAM and their success

Answer 26

1959 boycott of products such as sherry

Some success in boycotts and Anti-Apartheid News yet hard to gain wide support

Question 27

E.S Reddy

Answer 27

Indian who worked in UN
highlighted apartheid
Increasing support from newly independent Asian and African states

Question 28

Importance of sports

Answer 28

SA ceased to send teams to Commonwealth in 1961
1962 non racial Olympic committee
SA teams racially segregated
SA excluded from FIFA in 1963

Question 29

Basil D’Oliveria

Answer 29

Selected for English cricket team in 1968, excluded from tour due to being coloured and unable to participate in SA
Belatedly selected after 20,000 letters of support
Vorster then refuses to allow tour

Question 30

Verwoerd’s aims

Answer 30

Early 1960, felt confident to announce a whites only referendum om question of a republic
Opportunity to rally support
Bolstered support in the Broederbond