South Africa 1976 – 1994

1. South Africa 1976 – 1994

2. After 1979 the South African government had three possible problems: 1. The threat of an invasion 2. International sanctions 3. Internal uprising

3. 1. The threat of invasion: • Unlikely as the Cold War was still raging and Western countries would not stand back and allow anyone (communist) to invade. • The major oil routes from the Middle East travelled past South Africa so it was imperative to the west that the southern tip of Africa didn’t fall into the hands of the Communists.

4. 2. International Sanctions • Also unlikely at this point as the world relied on South Africa for a number of resources: • 83% of the worlds platinum (Used in car exhausts) • 81% of the worlds chromate (Used in steel production) • 25% of the worlds Uranium (Used in Nuclear Power) • 49% of the worlds Vanadium (Used in Steel production) • 15% of the worlds Titanium (Used in aircraft engines) • 25% of the worlds Asbestos (Used in cement production) • 35% of the worlds Fluorspar (Used in steel production) • 40% of all the worlds Vermiculite (Used in insulation)

5. 3. Internal Uprising • In 1976 the government passed the Internal Security Act. All outdoor meetings were banned except funerals and sports events. The Internal Security Act allowed the government to ban any person, newspaper or organisation. What it meant was that the Minister of Justice now could decide what constituted a crime. This basically squashed all major internal uprisings. The South African Government was safe – for now! However by 1989 it had all collapsed…. How?

6. John Voster: Prime Minister 1966 – 1978 P.W. Botha Prime Minister 1978 – 1984 President 1984- 1989

7. 1978- The Muldergate Scandal • Although in 1977 the National Party had obtained its biggest-ever election victory, in 1978 it became public knowledge that John Voster’s right hand man had been given a budget of R64 million to bribe people to favour South Africa. Dr Connie Mulder, the Minister of Information had used the money on bribing foreign press to show South Africa in a positive light, on making films, on starting a secretly government run newspaper in South Africa, and on wining and dining overseas dignitaries in flats he had bought in London and other overseas cities. • When this became public knowledge the scandal forced B.J Voster to resign and P.W. Botha replaced him.

8. 1984 – 1989 P.W. Botha Era 1980’s - crucial turning point for SA politics Civil protest ------- sustained national uprising Repression of protests failed ------ Government looked for political solutions Success of resistance due to participation of ordinary people

9. 1984 – 1989 P.W. Botha Era P.W. Botha had a solution to South Africa’s problem, he called it Total onslaught, total strategy. Total onslaught The Communists forces were determined to over-run South Africa. The USSR supported them and they operated from both inside and outside the country. Total Strategy South Africa had to fight this onslaught on every front both internally and abroad with all means possible –military, economic, psychological, and political

10. TOTAL ONSLAUGHT State Security Council Botha had been Minister of Defence and as such had a good relationship with the Generals esp. the chief General Malan. He set up a military advisory board called the State Security Council (SSC). The SSC had more influence over Botha than the Cabinet did. The SSC was supported by a system of Joint Management Centres, run by local police chiefs or an army brigadier. It was almost a parallel government. Armed Forces The size of the army was increased. Since 1972 every white male had to do 9 months military training. Botha increased this to 2 years, as well as an additional 720 days worth of camps. 200 000 school children went on regular camps run by the army called ‘veld schools’ and participated in a weekly cadet programme. By 1981 the SADF numbered over 250 000, with another 250 000 in reserve. Arms Industry Because of the world boycott on selling arms to SA, Botha initiated a SA arms industry called ARMSCOR. Military spending rose from R700 million in 1974 to R3000 million by 1981 RESULT: Botha was the head of a major military power

11. TOTAL STRATEGY 1. Botha’s Foreign Policy : • was one of dwangpostuur“threat posture’. • SA was too NB economically to Southern Africa. 2. Psychological Warfare : • Veld Schools • SABC • Conscription

12. TOTAL STRATEGY 3. Influence on Western Leaders : • Played on the threat of Communism • Reagan (80 – 88),Thatcher (79 – 90) wanted nothing to get in the way of trade and industry and therefore did not support sanctions. 4. Within South Africa : • Botha offers “WHAM” • Aimed at creating a richer black middle class to make white farmers and business happy.

13. WHAM – Botha’s Reforms 1. Trade Unions The Wiehahn Report (1979) suggested that Black Trade Unions (banned since the 1960’s) be un-banned. That way there would be a channel through which to negotiate and resolve trade disputes. 2. Job Reservation Jobs previously reserved for whites were opened up.

14. WHAM – Botha’s Reforms 3. Schools Lange Report (1981) recommended a single education department. Botha did not go this far, but did increase spending on Black education by 300% in the 1980’s. 4. Living in Cities Reikert Report (1979) recommended that blacks should be able to move more freely around the country and buy houses, not in ‘white’ areas, but in ‘black’ townships. Influx control was relaxed. The Urban Foundation was set up to build better quality housing for the black middle class.

15. WHAM – Botha’s Reforms 5. Power Sharing 1983 saw a new Constitution allowing for a Tricameral Parliament. • 178 seats in the White parliament • 85 seats in the Coloured parliament • 45 seats in the Indian parliament Cabinet consisted of the same proportionate representation. Blacks could not take part, but could elect local assemblies. 6. Petty Apartheid • Mixed Marriages Act repealed • Separate Amenities were encouraged to be allowed to be desegregated. • 1986 – Pass Laws abolished

16. WHAM – Botha’s Reforms Although one of the results of these reforms was that most whites gave Botha their support with the National Party winning both the 1981 and 1987 elections there was some opposition: Opposition by whites: Some whites believed that Apartheid was being abandoned and panicked. Botha did nothing to relieve their fears and reacted with his ‘Adapt or Die’ speech. Conservative Party: In 1982 Treurnight broke away taking 18 NP parliamentarians with him and started the Conservative Party. They were soon to become the major opposition party and had effectively split the Afrikaans vote. In the 1987 election 37% of Afrikaaners did not support the National Party. Further still to the right was the AWB led by Eugene Terreblanche.

17. WHAM – Botha’s Reforms Opposition by Blacks 1. Trade Unions: Trade unions now began militant mass action: In 1974 14167 working days were lost. In 1982 365 337 working days were lost. New struggle leaders emerge eg. Cyril Ramphosa (NUM) Trade Unions join up in a show of solidarity to form the Confederation Of South African Trade Unions. (COSATU).

18. WHAM – Botha’s Reforms Opposition by Blacks 2. School Children By 1980 50% of black people were under the age of 25, most of them experiencing poor education. In 1979 The Congress of S A Students is formed (COSAS) Another sttudent organisation very active at the time: AZASO In 1980 – 1981 100 000 students boycotted classes. They would link up with other groups and participate in trade and rent strikes. The ‘lost generation’.

19. WHAM – Botha’s Reforms Opposition by Blacks 3. Squatters The loosening of influx control resulted in mass urbanisation. New squatter areas were created eg Crossroads. The Ministry of Co-Operation and Development would bulldoze settlements, creating continuous clashes. 4. The Church The Church now took on a role of resistance. Inspired by the South American Liberation Theologians people like Allan Boesak, Frank Chikane and Desmond Tutu take the lead.

20. WHAM – Botha’s Reforms 4. The Church cont. The South African Council of Churches (SACC) co-ordinated the opposition: • Supported conscientious objection in SADF • Called for foreign companies to oppose job reservation • Supported sanctions Many confrontations between SACC and gov. 1985: ‘Kairos Document’ called for christians to support liberation struggle Some Jewish and Muslim leaders also supported protests Church only legal voice of opposition after banning of other organizations

21. Reaction to the New Constitution Whereas the New Constitution had split Whites, Coloured and Indians, it unified Black resistance groups. Many black people decided to boycott the elections of the local councils. To co-ordinate the protests a new organisation was created: The United Democratic Front (UDF). The UDF consisted of: ｧTrade Unions ｧCOSAS ｧChurches ｧWomen’s Groups ｧCivic Groups ｧIndian community groups

22. The UDF Boycott Campaign 1983-84 This campaign was better organised than the ANC’s boycott campaign of the 50’s. They used leaflets, posters and door-to-door visits, and used the Freedom Charter as their foundation. Albertina Sisulu played a leading role resulting in a renewed interest in the ANC and the call for ‘Release Mandela”. In the 1984 elections: Only 29% of Coloured voted Only 19% of Indians voted Only 21% of Blacks participated in election of black local councils. (the mayor of Soweto was voted in with 1115 votes out of a possible electorate of 2 million.) In 1985: 3 000 000 people belonged to UDF

23. The Vaal Triangle Uprising 1984 - 1985 Schools: In September 1984 there was a major school boycott in the Vaal Triangle. The boycotting students called for: A ban on unqualified teachers Access to paper and books The banning of excessive corporal punishment The end to sexual harassment. COSATU and COSAS worked together and organised a mass ‘stay-at-home’.

24. The Vaal Triangle Uprising 1984 - 1985 Schools: 1983 - 1985: Nationwide school boycotts; schooling disrupted; support for ‘liberation before education’ 1985: Meeting in Jhb to discuss breakdown of education… Parents, teachers, students, political & community org form….. National Education Crisis Committee (NECC) Promoted: the idea of ‘education for liberation’ Suspended the school boycott Urged support for challenge to education system Within schools Promoted ‘people’s education’ Developed alternate teaching materials

25. The Vaal Triangle Uprising 1984 - 1985 Local Violence: In The Black Local Councils were corrupt in the Vaal Triangle. Many of the councillors had given themselves taxi and liquor rights. The government had charged them with increasing rents. As 30% of the population were unemployed there was a call for rent strikes. Many councillors’ houses were burnt and the SADF was deployed in the townships to try and restore law and order. People were harassed and many of the protesters were killed. This running battle for the townships would continue for the next 10 years. Many of the protests were led by children - In 1987 13yr old Stompie Moeketsie led 1500 under 14yr olds in a protest in Tumahole and burnt down the town hall. He was youngest person to be detained under the State of Emergency. Winnie Mandela’s ‘soccer team’ later allegedly killed him.

26. Financial Crisis (1985) Because of the Township violence many businesses got nervous and began to disinvest e.g. Barclays bank and Esso. The USA pass the Anti-Apartheid Act. Business leaders realise that they have to begin dialogue with the ANC and agree to meet and discuss the future of South Africa. The government had now lost the support of business. Business decided to give Botha one last chance. On 15 August 1985 Botha, rather than placating the business leaders made his hard-line ‘Rubicon Speech’, and Declared a nation-wide State of Emergency. There was press censorship, 25 000 UDF members detained and school children were not allowed on the streets during the day.

27. Results of the Rubicon Speech: The SA Rand dropped by 35% SA Stock Exchange closed Taxes were increased to fund greater military spending The average South African’s income dropped In 1986 a visiting group of Commonwealth politicians known as the ‘Eminent Persons Group’ warned the South African Government that there would be a ‘blood-bath’ if apartheid continued.

28. The Mass Democratic movement 1989: Banned ANC called for a “Year of Mass Action” Formation of Mass democratic Movement (MDM) - including UDF and COSATU MDM launched Defiance Campaign: • Called for end to segregation in hospitals, Transport and beaches Called for stayaways to protest against 1989 tricameral elections Huge support for Defiance Campaign Mood of Defiance grew People ignored banning orders and restrictions Flag and literature of ANC openly used

29. The Mass Democratic movement MDM organised freedom marches in major cities: ---- Government no longer in charge of situation By the end of 1989: stage set for major changes in SA

30. Black on Black Violence The townships were plagued with black-on-black violence between the ‘comrades’ (ANC supporters) and the supporters of the councillors. There were necklace killings and retaliations. The government introduced ‘kitskonstabels’ to ‘stop’ the violence. Major clashes took place in Crossroads in the Western Cape, while in Natal there were clashes between the ‘comrades’ and Buthelezi’s Inkatha group which had received funding from the government. In 1989 the ANC call for a campaign to ‘make South Africa ungovernable”. They started ‘people’s Courts’, ‘peoples schools’ and COSAS began their ‘each-one- teach-one’ campaign. The situation between the resistance groups and the South African Government appeared to be deadlocked.

31. In January 1989 P.W. Botha had a stroke and a group of National Party politicians led by F.W. De Klerk called for a vote of non-confidence in his leadership and P.W. Botha is forced to resign.