SA Chapter 4

• Townships Revolt, 1984-87


  Black residential areas/townships centres of violence in the 1980s
• Botha's reforms were not working - they didn't calm the protests
• The authorities found it increasingly difficult to control and contain protest
• Botha resorted to force, resulting in the militarisation of the state and mass arrests
• F.W. de Klerk replaced Botha as president = pace of change quickened


  1989
• Mandela released and the ANC and PAC were legalised to enable their inclusion in negotiations on the future of SA


  1990
• There was a danger that violence would undermine the process and lead to civil war
• Conflict between different African political movements, particularly the Zulu Inkatha Freedom Party and the ANC, escalated
• All major political groupings clearly supported a unified SA and a peaceful transition. Elections were scheduled for April 1994


  By 1993
• Compromise was needed to produce a new constitution
• The ANC insisted on a universal franchise and fully democratic system, which was likely to deliver them political power
• The NP attempted to defend existing property rights to protect white wealth
• Community Council Act (1977) AND the Black Local Authorities Act (1982)


  New urban black councils
• State hoped to appease them with some role in politics
• African people viewed the councillors as sellouts
• Councils


  • Could allocate housing, employ local officials, award contracts and grant some business licences (liquor, taxis)
  • Had to raise revenue locally
• Rents were the best potential source of revenue for local councils
• Attempts to control the spread of unplanned, informal shack settlements created further tension
• United Democratic Front (UDF)


  • Goal - banish apartheid, grow and convince others to joint
  • A 'front not an organisation'
• Activists from different groups were concerned that Botha was gaining allies for his reform policy in the homelands, the Coloured Labour Party and the black councils
• UDF mobilised against reforms, argued for a fully democratic South Africa
• UDF chose coloured township to show it's not just black movement
• UDF incorporated a new generation of articulate national leaders, many associated with the churches
• UDF adopted the Freedom Charter
• UDF didn't advocate armed struggle
• UDF organised boycotts of Botha's Indian and Coloured parliaments, as well as councils in the townships
• COSAS aligned with the UDF in 1983 - movement more organised
• UDF established itself in the townships of the Transvaal in 1984 through a Million Signatures Campaign - oppose Botha's reforms
• Million Signatures Campaign


  • Mass petition against the proposed new constitution and African local government
  • Launched in January 1984, collected close to 400,000 signatures by October
  • Less than 12% of Africans voted in the elections for the new community councils
• Similarities: Mass movement of all races, Committed to freedom charter

  Differences: UDF oppose armed struggle, ANC external
• Why were people protesting/marching in the Vaal Triangle? Marching against rent increases and the Tricameral Parliament which did not represent the people
• Why were they so angry about rents? They would be locked out of their houses the first month that they couldn't afford rent. Had a negative impact on students who would be unable to study and prepare for their exams and would often be sent to a different township by their parents to stay with relatives
• What day did they choose for their protest and why? 3rd September 1984, same day as the opening of the Tricameral Parliament. Wanted to make a political impact and show the world that they were unhappy with the constitutional reforms, despite what the National Party claimed
• What happened during the protest? Initially peaceful, but became violent in the afternoon following the news that peaceful protesters in Sebokeng had been shot. Countless people were killed or injured and houses and council buildings were burnt down. Felt the violence was justified because they were showing their dissatisfaction with the authorities' response to peaceful protest
• UDF


  Umbrella organisation that helped to politicise and mobilise many to oppose apartheid in the townships and successfully organised early protests that started a new momentum of opposition in the townships
• Devolution in townships


  Fragmented authority and caused confusion, and many Africans felt betrayed by the black councillors who they accused of exploiting their positions for personal gain
• ANC encouragement


  Successfully appealed to and inspired the militant youth of the townships, spurring them into action and sent MK activists to engage in and advance opposition
• Botha's constitutional reforms


  Opposed by those who believed they were designed to maintain white power and wanted a fully democratic South Africa instead
• In the 1980s violence was beyond anyone's control. Lots of violence in black communities.
• 1984 - 175 people were killed during violent demonstrations against rent increases in the Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging area.