4: The end of apartheid 1984-94

• When did Botha become PM?

  1978
• What was P.W. Botha's policy?

  • He was determined to keep SA under white control
  • His government believed SA was under threat from communist forces, both within and outside SA. He called this threat 'Total Onslaught'. Botha's response was 'Total Strategy'.
• Why did Total Strategy fail?

  • Struggling economy, due to economic sanctions. Inflation rose: 11% in 1983 to 18% by 1986.
  • There was no end to the violence in townships.
  • Security forces were unable to prevent the opposition groups committing acts of terror e.g. attacking bars popular within members of the security forces. The no. of incidents rose from 45 in 1984 to 281 by 1988.
  • There was dissent within Botha's government: some wanted to maintain the military pressure, but it became apparent that this was not succeeding.
• Due to the failures of Total Strategy, Botha adopted a new policy called WHAM ('Winning of Hearts and Minds' and 'Adapt or Die').
• Constitutional reform:

  In 1984, Botha introduced a new constitution after a referendum of white voters accepted it by a two-to-one majority. There was a new tricameral parliament:

  • House of Assembly (178 white members)
  • House of Representatives (85 coloured members)
  • House of Delegates (45 Indian members)

  In joint sessions, white members could outvote the others. Black Africans were not represented at all.
• Governance:

  There would be a multiracial cabinet responsible for 'general affairs' by which was meant issues such as taxation, defence, business and foreign affairs. Uniracial ministerial councils were to be responsible for 'their own affairs' e.g. education, health and local government.
• Role of the Prime Minister:

  Became a president with executive powers, thereby increasing a role that had formerly been largely ceremonial. Now the PM was:

  • elected by a collage of 50 voters, including 50 white, 25 coloured and 14 Indian MPs
  • given the power to dissolve Parliament at any time
  • responsible for African affairs
  • given the power to appoint a cabinet from members of all three houses
• What was the Rubicon Speech 15th August 1985?

  • Global audience expected Botha to announce real reform in SA and many expected the release of Mandela
  • 'South Africa's problems will be solved by South Africans and not by foreigners'
  • Talks regarding Mandela's release, however Botha did not take the final step of releasing him
  • Government oppression continues and Botha intensified military activities against the ANC and PAC based abroad
  • His speech let down many expectations
• What were the consequences of Botha's reforms and the Rubicon Speech?

  • 1985 - 1986: over 90 US firms, including Kodak, closed down their SA operations.
  • 1985: international value of the rand fell by 35% and the stock exchange was in crisis. The foreign exchange temporarily closed on 30 August 1985 to uphold the value of the rand.
  • Cost of imports rose by 60% between 1986 and 1987.
  • 1987: World Bank figures suggested that SA growth rates were among the lowest in the developed world, while inflation was the third highest among industrial nations.
  • Non-whites were growing more wealthy.
• When did Botha declare a State of Emergency?

  1986
• Botha's 1986 State of Emergency:

  • Did not remove underlying problems
  • The SADF deployed 800 troops in townships and committed acts of barbarism
  • Over 30 organisations including the UDF were banned
  • Media restrictions meant that little went reported
  • SA basically turned into a dictatorship
• What was the UDF?

  • United Democratic Front, founded in August 1983
  • Coordinated internal opposition against Botha's reforms
  • Seen as the internal wing of the ANC
• Why was there a change in 1986?

  The pattern of violence changed: more blacks were killed by other blacks, rather than by police. Different groups were turning on each other e.g. AND/UDF versus Inkatha.
• What involvement did the government have in the violence between the ANC and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)?

  A 'Third Force' was operated by members of government security forces. They undertook in covert operations with vigilante groups.

  1991 Inkathagate Scandal - members of the security forces were giving covert assistance to Inkatha cadres and sometimes accompanying them in operations.
• What examples are there of government violence against anti-apartheid activists?

  • Accused of brutal, often covert activities within SA
  • 1984: 'Cradock Four' anti-apartheid activities assassinated by the State Security Council
  • 1987: accused of bombing the headquarters of COSATU due to its links with the ANC
  • 1989: David Webster (anti-apartheid critic) assassinated after being identified as an enemy of the State
• What was the State of Emergency?

  • July 1985: Declared in 36 magisterial districts
  • During this: 2,436 people detained under the Internal Security Act, giving police & military sweeping powers
  • Curfews implemented
  • President could rule by decree
  • 12 June 1986: another over whole country
  • Public Security Act amended - right to declare certain places "unrest areas", allowing the state to employ extraordinary measures to crush protests and ban cameras from entering
  • SABC (Broadcasting Corporation) provided propaganda
  • 1989 (4 years into it): Botha meets Mandela and agrees to work for a peaceful solution.
• Why did Botha agree to meet with Mandela in July 1989 and negotiate an end to apartheid?

  • On 5 July 1984, Mandela met with P.W. Botha in secret
  • The unfavourable economic situation meant that apartheid was no longer feasible
  • brought 2 opposing leaders together, leading to further negotiations between the gov. and the ANC
• Why did Botha decide to negotiate in the years 1985-89?

  • International isolation
  • failure of 'total strategy'
  • role of anti-apartheid activists
  • internal economic problems
  • unrest in townships
  • effects of the State of Emergency
• How did Black Churches put pressure on the gov. to end apartheid?

  • the gov. were far less likely to attack religious leaders
  • Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a general secretary for the South Africa Council of Churches (SACC) and was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for his efforts in 1984, using his position to denounce the gov.
  • they were able to criticise the gov. more freely than the leaders of militant groups and were pivotal in altering public opinion
• How did the media put pressure on SA?

  • The Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute Concert at Wembley on June 11th 1988. Watched live by an audience of 72,000 but also on TV by almost a billion people in over 60 countries
  • During the 10 hrs of it, the attention of the world was focused on apartheid and the continued imprisonment of Mandela
• Who was Frederik Willem de Klerk?

  • Botha's successor after he had a stroke in 1989
  • in his first speech he outlined a 'new course' which promised a real end to apartheid and power sharing between diff. racial groups
• What was de Klerk's 'New Course'?

  Feb 1990: ANC unbanned, Mandela released

  May 1990: discussions between ANC & NP

  June 1991: Group Areas Act & Population Registration Act repealed

  Dec 1991: CODESA (Convention for a Democratic SA) talks begin

  Nov 1993: new constitution agreed upon

  April 1994: first fully democratic elections
• Why did de Klerk decide upon a 'new course'?

  • had to bring back order to SA which was on the verge of civil war
  • issues with the economy
  • politically isolated
  • NP losing support
  • end of Cold War - no longer a communist threat, meaning western support diminished
• Mandela was released on 11th Feb 1990
• What problems faced the...

  ...NP:

  • difficult to lead SA away from 40 years of apartheid
  • Conservative party demanded a full return to apartheid
  • The Afrikaner Weerstandbeweding (AWB) threatened to fight for a white SA through violence
  • removing apartheid would remove the protection of white jobs

  ...ANC:

  • no political organisation in SA and only had a small membership
  • lacked internal organisation
  • Winnie Mandela caused problems
• What was CODESA 1991?

  The gov. agreed to hold a Convention for a Democratic SA to work out a new constitution which would give rights to all citizens and prepare for a post-apartheid democratic SA.

  It resulted in a statement committing the gov. to reform and enabled de Klerk to hold a referendum in March 1992 among white voters to see whether they supported reform (69% did).