De Klerk (1989-90)

• De Klerk took over as president in August 1989, after Botha's stroke, despite his Afrikaner beliefs, he recognised the need for change and promised reform in the September election
• De Klerk took over as president in August 1989, after Botha's stroke, despite his Afrikaner beliefs, he recognised the need for change and promised reform in the September election
• De Klerk turned South Africa around in just 2 months (August 1989: president to August 1990: ‘Pretoria Minute’), despite being part of the NP, he promised to work towards change as by the end of 1980s, it was in a terrible state
• Cape Town had its largest anti-apartheid march in 30 years, De Klerk didn't stop it, he released Walter Sisulu and other prisoners in October 1989
• December 1989: met Mandela, lifted ANC ban, February 1990: De Klerk lifts ban on PAC and 30 other organisations, releases non-violent prisoners, lifts newspaper censorship, repeals death sentence and releases Mandela no condition
• February 1990: De Klerk lifts ban on PAC and thirty other organizations, releases non-violent prisoners, lifts newspaper censorship, repeals death sentence and releases Mandela without condition
• February 1990: De Klerk lifts ban on PAC and thirty other organizations, releases non-violent prisoners, lifts newspaper censorship, repeals death sentence and releases Mandela without condition
• Mandela was released February 11th, and refused to condemn violence or call to lift sanctions; the government and ANC sought talks, ANC for votes for all constitution, but De Klerk wanted "power-sharing" (veto on laws)
• De Klerk and Mandela agreed to end violence and seek political solution (May 1990), petty apartheid dismantled in June 1990, with Separate Amenities Act repealed
• Mandela toured Europe and North America, ending State of Emergency (summer), "Pretoria Minute" in August 1990: ANC to end violence, Internal Security Act reviewed, and political prisoners released
• He unbranded political groups, and released prisoners, the significance of the 1994 election in South Africa, was because it was the first democratic election