Summary IEB/NSC - History - Rise of Democracy in South Africa
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Course
History
Institution
12th Grade
Document covers the following topics:
How did South Africa emerge as a democracy from the crises of the 1990s, and how did South Africans come to terms with the Apartheid past?
• How was a negotiated settlement and Government of National Unity achieved?
An in-depth analysis of how South Afr...
Rise of Democracy in South Africa
The road to democracy
● Secret negotiations began as early as 1986
● At the end of 1989 and start of 1990, Apartheid government formally commits to negotation and change.
● First democratic elections took place in 1994.
● The road to democracy South Africa was a case of one step forward and two steps back
Ongoing issues
● Mandela wants democracy as soon as possible -”One man, one vote”. This will lead to majority rule and an ANC
government.
● De Klerk would prefer some form of power-sharing agreement as “one man, one vote” will send him out of
power
● The Bantustan leaders want to hang onto their power.
● People expect to see immediate change. When this does not happen, they consider returning to mass action.
1989 - 1994 Overview
Steps forward
1989: Unbanning of organisations and the release of political prisoners
1190 May: Groote Schuur Minutes
1991 Dec: CODESA 1
1992 May: CODESA 2
1992 September: National Peace Accord
Record of Understanding and Sunset Clause
1993 April : Multi-party Negotiating Forum
1993: New Interim constitution accepted
194 April: First Democratic elections
Steps Backward
1990 March: Sebokeng and escalating violence.
1992 March : “Whites Only” referendum
1992 June: Boipatong
1992 September:Bhiso
1993 Formation of COSAG
1993 April: Assassination ofChris Hani
1993 June: AWB storm World Trade Centre
PAC: St James Church Massacre.
PAC: Heidelberg Tavern
1994 March: Bophuthatswana & Shell House massacre
1990
Steps Forward
February 2:
● De Klerk’s Speech unbans ANC, PAC and SACP
● This leads to release of political prisoners and unconditional release of Mandela
● Leads to lifts on media censorship and emergency regulations (UDF)
February 11:
● Release of Mandela who is appointed Deputy President of ANC
Talks about talks - pre-formal negotiations meetings (NP/ANC):
May: Groote Schuur Minutes:
● Commits to an end to violence
● Commits to work towards a process of negotiation .
● Temporary indemnity offered to ANC exiles
● NP will look into reviewing some of the security legislation
, 2
September:Pretoria Minutes:
● Mandela makes the first big gesture and agrees to ’suspend’ the armed struggle of the armed struggle of the
ANC and MK.This gives De Klerk the opportunity to look into lifting State security legislation
Steps back
But 1990 is marred by violence:
● Conflict between supporters of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and ANC.
● Random, brutal attacks on ANC supporters on trains and in townships.
● July 1990: IFP hostel dwellers attack ANC supporters in Sebokeng - a dreadful and grisly attack.
Why is the IFP acting this way?
● IFP had been the only ‘Black’ political party in Apartheid - was seen as reasonable and co-operative by the NP
● IFP leader, Buthelezi, presumed that when change came. Buthelezi and the IFP would take key positions in any
government.
● Now the ANC seems to be working with the NP.
3rd force
Is this ‘black-on-black’ violence being secretly encouraged, planned and funded by the State? Images of this violence
‘prove’ that a Black government in South Africa is not a good idea! Destestablisatiom slows down handover to majority
rule
1991
Steps Forward
CODESA (Convention for a Democratic South Africa)
December 20:
● 19 political parties represent - (CP,PAC and IFP missing)
● Met at World Trade Center in Kempton Park
● Tripartite alliance of ANC, COSATU and SACP.
Signing of Declaration of Intent:
● To bring about an ‘undivided South Africa’
1992
Steps forward
Mandela ignores implied insult and does not react
1992 May:CODESA 2
Struggling to come to agreement on:
● Majority rule
● Power Sharing
● Regional Power
● Ongoing Violence
The Bhisho Massacre:
● Convinces both De Klerk and Mandela that had negotiated settlement is the Only way to end this constant
violence.
● Mandela drops a number of demands.De Klerk appoints Goldstone commission to investigate the 3rd Force.
● Mandela reveals the role of dirty tricks and death squads(De Klerk denies all knowledge)
● Ban on cultural weapon
● Fencing of on hostiles
Signing of National Peace Accord
● Recommitment to negotiations. IFP signs as well.
● negotiations continued in the hands of Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC) and Roelf Meyer (NP) - Who are trying to break
the deadlock of interim government.
Joe Slovo suggest ‘Sunset Clause’ - A gradual dying out of the old era:
● Allow for a Government Of National Unity (GNU) to serve until 2000.
Government employees are guaranteed jobs for 10 years after elections.
● Elections to be held in April 1994
Constitution to be based on the interim Bill of Rights.
● September: Signing of Record of Understanding
, 3
Steps backward
● The government by Election in early 1992 National Party support drop.
● De Klerk to hold referendums for white voters
● De Klerk poses the question:’ Do you support the continuation of the reform process?’
● Receives ‘YES’ responses of 68.7%
But
● This is insulting to Mandela
● De Klerk has signed the Declaration of Intent, and should not be thinking of halting the process.
● Whites-only suggests that De Klerk still does not vie ‘non-whites’ as South Africans
De Klerk has interpreted Referendum results as a vote of confidence in him - he is more confident and less willing to
look for compromise.
June 1992: Massacre Boipatong
● Inkatha Hostel dwellers attack residents of nearby township, Boipatong.
● Rumours of police vans bring in IFP.
○ Police investigation is careless and inconclusive
○ De Klerk visits Boipatong but is chased out.
● Mandela says “ENOUGH”...and breaks off talks
● Gives De Klerk a list of demands which must be met before talks can resume
1993
Steps Forward
April: Talks resume at World Trade Centre. Mood optimistic.
Multi-party negotiating forum:
● De Klerk hands over Hani assassination fallout to Mandela who is able to persuade the people that the only
way forward is to move towards a settlement and electons, despite their sadness and anger.
● Creates a sense of urgency in negotiations.
1993 Interim Constitution signed in November:
● Sets up Transitional Executive Council to oversee run-up to April elections.
Steps Backward
Pessimistic mood turns the country to the brink of war as one disaster after another threatens to derail everything the
negotiations have worked for.
10 April: The assassinations of Chris Hani
● Assassin hired by right winger, Clive derby-Lewis
● People are furious. Huge drop in share prices
25 July:
Members of the right-wing AWB storm the world Trade Centre
APLA soldiers attack St James Church in Cape Town
October: SADF raids house which was a storage unit for APLA weapons. House contained 5 children at the time of the
raid. All five killed.
31 December: APLA attack on Heidelberg tavern in Cape Town
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