Total Strategy

• Botha argued SA was integral in preventing Africa from becoming entirely communist. SA was subjected to a period of "Total Onslaught", meaning threats to Apartheid increased in both intensity an scope. Botha argued this was masterminded by the Soviet Union.
• Botha- "We must adapt or die!"
• Botha devised a "total strategy" in order to combat the "total onslaught", attempting to deal with reginal threats, international and internal threats.
• A Security council was established in 1982 under Botha which met regularly to inform his military strategy.
• BOSS carried out a "dirty war" against ANC leaders in exile.
• Censorship was increased:

  1983- Inquest Amendment Act- information of deaths in detention cannot be reported on.
• Censorship was increased:

  1983-Police Amendment Act- allegations of police brutality were outlawed.
• Botha created a new WHAM policy- "winning hearts and minds"
• The Wiehahn Report, 1979, recommend that trade unions banned since the 1960’s should be legalised.
• Trade unions were legalised as the government argued legal unions would act more responsibly and white employers would know who they needed to negotiate with.
• The Launge Report recommended that a single education system should be set up, with more money spent on black education. Spending on black education tripled throughout the 1980’s.
• The Reihert Report, 1979 argued that blacks should be allowed to move more freely and buy homes.