Response / effects of TOTS

Question 1

Relaxation of pass laws

Answer 1

More Black SAs poured into townships fuelling anger and unrest with large squatter camps developing.

Question 2

Trade unions legalised for Black SAs

Answer 2

365227 days lost through strikes in 1982 (this figure was 14167 in 1974)

30 different trade unions with 500,000 members joined together to from COSATU (Confederation of South African Trade Unions)

National union of mineworkers, led by Cyril Ramaphosa organised major strikes 1985-1988

Question 3

Schools

Answer 3

Schools remained centres of anti-government resistances, with classes overcrowded no books etc.

1980-81 almost 100,000 students boycotted classes to protest conditions.

Question 4

United Democratic Front

Answer 4

Formed in 1983 with 565 different anti-apartheid groups coming together including ( trade unions, student organisation, women’s groups, church groups (Desmond Tutu)

Similar ideals to ANC, adopted freedom charter etc.

Resulted in revival of interest in ANC, with albertina sisulu playing major part in UDF.

First act was to organise a major boycott of 1984 elections to new parliament which was very successful (29% of coloureds and 19% of indians voted.)

Question 5

Increasing violence across SA

Answer 5

1983 Constitutional reforms gave more power to local councillors as they became responsible for collecting rents etc.

Black councillors very unpopular and cause for major dissent, especially when government forced councillors to increase rents

At the time 30% unemployment therefore sparked major riots 1984.

Question 6

State of emergency

Answer 6

July 1985 minister of law and order declared SA to be ‘at the edge of anarchy and bloody revolution’

Botha declared state of emergency (fist since sharpeville.)

Police gained powers to arrest people without a warrant, detaining them indefinitely.

UDF were detained with 85% being tortured, 500 killed by police in 1985.

All media was strictly controlled.

Troops were deployed in townships across SA

Security forces used vigilantes to crush rising, with much fighting ensuing, residential areas destroyed.

Police gave up going into some townships leaving them alone.

Question 7

Financial crisis and international backlash

Answer 7

Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher continued to oppose sanctions.

Private companies did not agree though with the disinvestment campaign saw nations pull work from SA.

In 1984 40 US companies did so and in 1985 50 did so.