Domestic Challenges to National Party Power (1973-83) Flashcards
(24 cards)
Growth in liberalism
- Progressive Party went from 1 to 7 MPs in 1974 election. Wanted a non-racial SA
- 17 seats in 1977, but no match to 134 seats of NP
Opposition by radical whites to reforms
PM Vorster proposed an Indian and coloured parliament by hard-line whites opposed
- There was a separate President’s council of white, coloured and Indian South Africans.
- A black council created but no black joined.
Bantustans granted independence
Transkei 1976
Bophuthatswana 1977
Venda 1979
Ciskei 1981
Income received by Transkei from South Africa
In 1985 Transkei receive 85% of its income from SA
Poverty statistics in Bantustans
- 1970, only 25% f Africans employed lived in Bantustans
- of those employed in Bantustans, 60% worked in substance farming
- 1973, only 3% of GDP came from Bantustans
Bophutatswana
Closest to financial independence due to its casino and entertainment location, Sun City
65% worked outside the Bantustan
in 1986, 250,000 South Africans arrested for pass violations
Bantustan leaders and SADF
Bantustans leaders seen as collaborators and unpopular, worked with SADF
- SADF helped restore Mangope in Bophuthatswana in 1988
- the gov allowed a coup to form in order to get rid of leaders, e.g. Transkei 1987.
Division within the National party
Divided into 2 - reform vs no change at all
1982 - radical Andries Treurnicht created the Conservative Party and became the largest opposition to NP, but opposed any change
What changes were done to try to get non-white support?
- Department of Bantu Affairs became ‘collective development’
- ‘discrimination’ changed to ‘differentiation’
Biggest challenge to NP
Muldergate Scandal 1978 - led by Connie Mulder, Minister of Information and Interior
- funds had been directed to pay for global propaganda
- purchased English language newspaper, ‘the Citizen’ for at least R30 million. Attempted to buy ‘Washington Star’ in US
- Bribes to UK/US to win support. Attempted to buy half of English television UPITN
Impact of Muldergate
Mulder forced to resign from NP
Vorster resigned due to illness but revealed that he was also involved.
Hurt the reputation and increased further opposition.
P.W. Botha elected and initial suggestions
Became PM in 1978 and wanted to appease non-whites.
Experts suggested that the gov could fight internal and external opposition simultaneously
- So created a non-white middle class
Reasons for reform from P.W. Botha
- Security needed more recruits, increase in non-whites
- Conscription for whites increased to 2 years but employers complained, so more non-whites were recruited.
- Most recruits were rural, so they gained allocated housing and benefits.
- Shortage of skilled workers (100,000 gap in 1970s)
Efforts to improve electricity and living conditions
Due to the increased in need of a middle class they had to improve conditions
- 1976, Africans could get 30 year leases of homes, allowed to purchase them in 1983
- 1970, 86% of African workers were migrants, by 1979, 68& were permanent residents.
Botha didn’t want to give away white supremacy but was ready to sacrifice enough.
1979 Wiehann Report
Recommended liberalisation of black trade unions. Recognised in the Industrial Conciliation Amendment Act of 1981
- Due to a shortage of skilled labour and a clear leader whom to negotiate with
Wiehann argued that black workers should have equal rights, e.g. the right to strike after a 30 day notification.
1979 Riekart Commission
Stated that only those that qualified to live in white areas due to their skills should receive preferential treatment
- Around half a million black would benefit, little effect
Impact of reforms on trade unions and Riekart
- Tighter restrictions and more control so pass violations rose to 5,000 by 1978
- Whites were employing ‘illegals’, 500,000 illegals in Soweto in 1980
Statistics of illegals
- An illegal work from Bophuthatswana could spend 9 months working in Pretoria, 3 months in jail and be 85% better off.
- One from Ciskei could do 3 months work and 9 months jail and be 234% better off.
GDP and population 1973
In 1973 the GDP increased less than population, so people were poorer
Inflation
Never lower than 10%
White population decrease
White population dropped to 16% by 1980
GDP spent on defence
1% in 1960, 4% by 1980s, accounted for 13% of govt spending
Peaked at 5% in 1977
SADF and conscription
- SADF doubled in size from 1960-65
- Conscription extended to 2 years, with mandatory 90 days for 8 years in camps
