Who became PM in 1978?
Botha
What was Botha determined to do?
maintain white rule in the face of increasing threats to regime at home and abroad
What did Botha realise he’d have to do?
Realised he’d need to make some reforms to apartheid but also maintain strong aggressive control
State 5 problems that Botha faced
By 1980 SA was the last white gov in Africa
Lots of contradictions and problems with apartheid
White extremists unhappy
Increasing violence and opposition - police state not working
Increasing worldwide pressure for reform in SA
Where was SA facing threat of invasion?
Facing ruthless onslaught from communist forces supported by USSR operating inside and outside of the country
Buffer states that had protected SA’s borders were falling away
How was SA facing threat from international sanctions?
Foreign businesses under pressure to withdraw investments
Almost total artistic and sporting boycott of SA dbf increasing pressure for sanctions to isolate SA economically
In SA what was the white black ratio like?
1 in 8 were white
What did a new constitution in 1983 do?
Gave votes to Indians and coloureds
In 1979 what was made legal?
Black trade unions
in 1984 what did national union of mineworkers do?
called first legal strike by black miners for pay increase
What couldn’t be stopped in SA?
Flow of black workers into towns as industry needed them
Non-white students were admitted to Uni of Stellenbosch
What was happening to Petty Apartheid?
Slowly disappearing
What stopped being segregated in 1981?
Beaches in cape province
What was desegregated in 1985?
some hotels and restaurants
what happened in Pretoria in 1983?
17 parks were closed to black people
What % of Indians and coloureds didn’t vote in 1984?
80%
what was permitted in 1985?
mixed marriages - but still prevented mixed race couples from living together
By 1986 how many whites needed homes which didn’t exist in their areas?
600,000
What happened in white areas?
around 37,000 empty houses and flats in white areas and owners were willing to sell to anyone
By 1986 what was the population like in 3 Johannesburg suburbs?
25% of residents were Indian and black
What did Botha abandon?
Pass laws
What did Botha announce in January 1985?
stated gov would release Mandela if he rejected ANC violence but he refused
what was Total Strategy?
Portrayed by its authors as the apartheid gov’s response to the perceived threat of Total Onslaught
what was Total Onslaught?
Threat posed to SA by Soviet Union’s designs on the strategic value of SA as the industrial powerhouse of the African continent, the guardian of sea lanes around the Cape of Good Hope and in particular possession of enormous mineral wealth
What 5 purposes was total onslaught/strategy used for?
Win support of western gov’s
Justify repression of blacks - especially those against gov
Brainwash whites into closing ranks, particularly within security and judiciary - even condoned torture and killing of political activists
Justify destabilisation of SA neighbours
Maintain apartheid power whilst appearing as sole supporter of western democracy in Africa
What did Botha set up in 1982?
State Security Council - consisted of army generals and police chiefs
How much influence did the SSC have?
More influence over Botha than politicians in his cabinet
What was SSC supported by?
by system of local Joint Management Centres, run by local police chief or army brigadier, almost a parallel government
state 5 ways Botha changed the armed forces
increased size
Every SA male had 2 years of mandatory service
Men could also be called to do up to 720 days of extra service at regular intervals or times of emergency
2000 kids went on regular camps run by army
by 1981 SADF numbered over 250,000 with another 250,000 in reserve
what did Botha set up in response to arms boycott?
Set up ARMSCOR
Between 1974-1981 how did military spending increase?
rose from 700 million ran to 3000 million rand
What did Botha make little effort to do?
win white support
In 1987 elections how popular was Nationalist party?
37% of Afrikaners didn’t support the party
In 1974 how many working days are lost through strikes?
14,167
in 1982 how many working days were lost through strikes?
365,337
how did trade unions become more powerful?
Strong leaders emerged such as Ramaphosa
No legal political mass organisations for blacks so trade unions filled these gaps
by 1980 how much of the population was under 25?
1/2
what protests against education happened between 1980-81?
nearly 100,000 school and uni students boycotted classes in protest of conditions
What did loosening of influx policies result in?
meant that blacks flooded into cities and housing situation became desperate - by mid 80’s new settlements were being built under international pressure
What did the UDF do?
produced leaflets, posters and organised door to door visits
ideals same as ANC
Huge revival in interest of Mandela’s release
In August 1984 how many Indians and coloureds voted?
29% of coloureds and 19% of Indians
What was the Vaal triangle?
area of black townships
when was the Vaal triangle uprising?
1984-5
What did protestors start with in Vaal triangle uprising?
school boycott
What did proteters in Vaal triangle demand?
ban of unqualified teachers
access to free books and paper
end to corporal punishment and sexual harassment
