why was apartheid collapsing by 1989 Flashcards
1985
Jan - Botha offered to free Mandela if her ‘unconditionally’ rejected violence as a political instrument
Security forces
began to enlist unemployed, illiterate blacks to help destroy the organisations, like the UDF and ANC
Botha announced
in Jan 1986 that SA had ‘outgrown the outdated concept of Apartheid’
Botha’s changes
pass laws were replaced and influx control ended
Botha launched
raids on ANC bases in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe
US sanctions
became mandatory in Oct 1986 - led to 50% fall in American investments in the country
ANC and UDF
attempted to ‘render the country ungovernable’
increased strikes
1985 - 680,000 working days lost
1987 - over a million lost
1988
COSATU launched the largest strike in SA history - 70% agreed to strike
bombing
rose from 45 in 1984 to 281 in 1988
Civilian Cooperation Bureau
established in 1987
sought to eliminate those identified as enemies of the state
Angola
SA forces retreated south to avoid loss of equipment and likely defeat
outnumbered by Cuban troops
1988 Angola
Aug - Botha withdrew from Angola and began negotiations for Namibia’s independence
cost of imports
rose by 60% in 1986-7
unable to borrow
from international banks, SA used by almost half its foreign exchange reserve in 14 months