Africa’s System of Apartheid
Purposes: To understand the characteristics of the system of Apartheid, and to compare it to the plight of US Blacks
To understand the key movements of protest against Apartheid, and the reasons behind its downfall
To compare the justification behind the use of violent and non-violent protest methods in Africa and India
Relevant Text Readings: Demarco 236-241, Atlas 154-155
A History of Racial Clashes
Unlike other African colonies, the colonies of South Africa were
dominated by fiercely independent and powerful white minorities that
controlled the land, economy and politics.
The Afrikaans were descended from Dutch, German and English
settlers and had violently defended their territorial, political and
cultural authority in conflicts with the local population and the British
Empire.
As Europe retreated from its overseas empires, South Africa was
formed as a single state in 1910 from four separate colonies.
Discriminatory policies were continued into the new dominion as
Coloured people and Blacks had few rights and little to no
representation in government.
Racial Groups in South Africa
Blacks: People of African heritage that
made up approximately 79% of the
population.
Coloreds: People of mixed race that
made up approximately 9% of the
population.
Asians: People of Asian descent who
made up approximately 3% of the
population.
Whites: People of European origin
(British and Dutch) who made up
approximately 9% of the population.
*All statistics from 2010 Census
Apartheid
Literally meaning “apartness”, it was a system of segregation of Whites and non-Whites that was implemented by
Dr Malan’s Nationalist Party in 1948. It sought “separate development” For South Africa’s different racial groups.
Apartheid in Action (Demarco 237-238)
Social Effects
Political Effects
Economic Effects
Venn Diagram Comparison:
Compare the Treatment of Blacks in the USA until the 1960s to the system of Apartheid in Africa
Africa’s System of Apartheid
The Struggle Against Apartheid
ANC (African National Congress)
ANC Platform
The Sharpeville Massacre
Causes and Events
The Suppression of Communism Act (1950)
Rationale and Effects
Soweto Riots (1976)
Causes and Effects
Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation)
After the Sharpeville Massacre, members of
the ANC formed a military wing to seek
violent means of change. They targeted the
government and military.
The ANC is Outlawed
By the mid-1960’s, the leaders of the ANC,
including Mandela, had been arrested and
their movement was banned by the
government.
Africa’s System of Apartheid
Stephen Biko’s Black Consciousness Movement
“Cry Freedom” 1987 Film about Biko’s Struggles
Platform
00:01:30 - 00:07:10 – Government raid
00:18:15 - 00:27:30 – Black townships & speeches
00:33:39 - 00:36:17 – 1st arrest
01:00:00 - 01:05:18 – 2nd arrest
01:45:27 - 01:46:00 – Trial (Coroner’s report)
02:18:45 - 02:23:45 – Soweto riot
Pressure From Outside
British Commonwealth (1961)
In 1961 South Africa left the Commonwealth after
constant criticism of its Apartheid policy
United Nations (1962)
United Nations (1963)
Ban on Sport
US Sanctions (1986)
Reforms
Under P. W. Botha
 1983 reform bill allows Colored and Asians to vote, but not Blacks. Colored and
Asians boycotted, so it did not work.
 1986 reform bill allows interracial marriages, and Blacks to own land and conduct
businesses in urban areas. Blacks were not satisfied – wanted an end to Apartheid.
Compare these measures to the India Act in 1935 in India.
Africa’s System of Apartheid
Under F. W. De Klerk
 Lifted the ban on Apartheid
 Released Mandela from prison and allowed the ANC to operate
 Allowed anti-Apartheid demonstrations to take place
 Negotiated with the ANC over a future democratic power structure
 Apartheid was officially banned in 1993
 Majority rule was implemented, and Mandela became President of South Africa in
the first free elections held in 1994
 De Klerk remained as a Deputy President until 1996
Compare these events to the transfer of power from Britain to India in 1947.
Discuss: What role did key individuals play in the abolition of Apartheid in South Africa?
South African Resistance (From: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mk/manifesto-mk.html)
The following document was released by Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), the newly formed military wing of the ANC,
after the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960:
Manifesto of Umkhonto we Sizwe
Leaflet issued by the Command of Umkhonto we Sizwe, 16th December 1961
Units of Umkhonto we Sizwe today carried out planned attacks against government installations, particularly those connected
with the policy of apartheid and race discrimination.
Umkhonto we Sizwe is a new, independent body, formed by Africans, It includes in its ranks South Africans of all races It is not
connected in any way with a so-called 'Committee for National Liberation' whose existence has been announced in the press.
Umkhonto we Sizwe will carry on the struggle for freedom and democracy by new methods, which are necessary to complement
the actions of the established national liberation organisations. Umkhonto we Sizwe fully supports the national liberation
movement, and our members jointly and individually, place themselves under the overall political guidance of that movement.
It is, however, well known that the main national liberation organisations in this country have consistently followed a policy of
non-violence. They have conducted themselves peaceably at all times, regardless of government attacks and persecutions upon
them, and despite all government-inspired attempts to provoke them to violence. They have done so because the people prefer
peaceful methods of change to achieve their aspirations without the suffering and bitterness of civil war. But the people's
patience is not endless.
The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices: submit or fight. That time has now come to South
Africa. We shall not submit and we have no choice but to hit back by all means within our power in defence of our people, our
future and our freedom. The government has interpreted the peacefulness of the movement as weakness; the people's nonviolent policies have been taken as a green light for government violence. Refusal to resort to force has been interpreted by the
government as an invitation to use armed force against the people without any fear of reprisals. The methods of Umkhonto we
Sizwe mark a break with that past.
Africa’s System of Apartheid
We are striking out along a new road for the liberation of the people of this country. The government policy of force, repression
and violence will no longer be met with non-violent resistance only! The choice is not ours; it has been made by the Nationalist
government which has rejected ever peaceable demand by the people for rights and freedom and answered ever such demand
with force and yet more force! Twice in the past 18 months, virtual martial law has been imposed in order to beat down peaceful,
non-violent strike action of the people in support of their rights. It is now preparing its forces - enlarging and rearming its armed
forces and drawing the white civilian population into commandos and pistol clubs - for full-scale military actions against the
people. The Nationalist government has chosen the course of force and massacre, now, deliberately, as it did at Sharpeville.
Umkhonto we Sizwe will be at the front line of the people's defence. It will be the fighting arm of the people against the
government and its policies of race oppression. It will be the striking force of the people for liberty, for rights and for their final
liberation! Let the government, its supporters who put it into power, and those whose passive toleration of reaction keeps it in
power, take note of where the Nationalist government is leading the country!
We of Umkhonto we Sizwe have always sought -as the liberation movement has sought - to achieve liberation without bloodshed
and civil clash. We do so still. We hope - even at this late hour - that our first actions will awaken every one to a realisation of the
disastrous situation to which the Nationalist policy is leading. We hope that we will bring the government and its supporters to
their senses before it is too late, so that both the government and its policies can be changed before matters reach the desperate
state of civil war. We believe our actions to be a blow against the Nationalist preparations for civil war and military rule.
In these actions, we are working in the best interests of all the people of this country - black, brown and white - whose future
happiness and well-being cannot be attained without the overthrow of the Nationalist government, the abolition of white
supremacy and the winning of liberty, democracy and full national rights and equality for all the people of this country.
We appeal for the support and encouragement of all those South Africans who seek the happiness and freedom of the people of
this country.
Afrika Mayibuye!