Revolt in Townships Flashcards
(30 cards)
Creation and aim of UDF
United Democratic Front created in Aug 1983.
Aimed to coordinate opposition against Botha’s constitutional reforms.
Wider goal - creation of new gov based on Freedom Charter
First UDF rally
At the township, Mitchell’s Plain, in Aug 1983
10,000 attended from +500 organisations.
UDF umbrella group
- Umbrella group for may groups some militant which couldn’t be controlled.
- Militant groups include Winnie Mandela (MUFC) or Albertina Sisulu
- 2 million supporters
Groups involved and strike days
UDF supported by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and Indian congresses.
COSATU increased strike days from 1 mil days in 1986 to 6 mil days lost 1987.
Boycott of Indian and Coloured Parliaments
- only 13% of Indiand and 18% of Coloured voted
Local groups
- Port Elizabeth Black Civic Organisation complained about poor housing lack of electricity
- Congress of South African Students (COSAS), created in 1979, organised school strikes and boycotts. Campaigned for ‘liberation before education’.
- National Education Crisis Committee (NECC) created in 1986, aimed to produce alternative education, preparing for post-apartheid.
Community Council Act
Set up in 1977 and established elected councils.
Councils became responsible of townships in 1982 with the Black Local Authorities Act.
- Had to raise own fund and did so by increasing rents.
- Rent strikes and tensions.
Impact of township councillors
- Some tried to make change, eg Sam Buti in Alexandra
- Most were businessmen who could allocate housing and award licences.
- Councillors seen as collaborators
- 1983/84 UDF tried to collect 1 million signature against the New Constitution
- Less than 12% of African voted in the community elections
UDF’s programme
‘People’s Organs, People’s power’, used local groups to plan rent strikes
-1989 rent debts totalled half a billion Rand
Song and flags used by UDF
Protests that used ANC flags and songs, e.g. Nkosi Skelel’ i Afrika
- Victims were killed by gov forces, and funerals were a place for protests. Toyi-toyi dance united protesters.
Why was the UDF movement not stopped?
- The movement was so broad that no clear leader could be taken out, technically banned in 1987 but continued.
- However, violence went constantly out of control.
Violence by gov towads protesters
- Pretoria-Witwatersrand area, 175 people killed in rent strikes in 1984
- 1985, 800 people killed due to political activity. Kangaroo courts created, unofficial.
Inkhata and black on black violence
- Fears of black on black violence, due to rise of African groups, e.g. Inkhata.
- Inkhata Freedom Party - national Zulu movement against the ANC.
- Leader of Inkhata was Chief Buthelezi. Supported capitalism, opposed violence and against economic sanctions, except on arms sales.
- Had support of Thatcher and Reagan
Inkhata aim and ANC relationship
Main aim - a Zulu nation inside South Africa
- Initially supported the ANC, but then stopped supporting.
- Seen as a collaborator and attacked at Sobukwe’s funeral. 200 threw stones and shouted ‘kill the pig’.
- Relations between ANC and Inkhata became hostile in the 1979 conference
Inkhata and Security forces
- Inkhata received secret assistance from security forces against the ANC.
- Mandela blamed the gov for destabilising the Vaal Triangle
Bomving of COSATU HQ
Bombed COSATU headquarters in 1987, stating it was used by MK
Shot dead by police and political assassinations
In 1986, 500 blacks were shot dead by police
40 political assassinations by the gov in 1980s
Inkhatagate
Began in 1991, when members of the security forces were supporting Inkhata fighters against the ANC, e.g. murder of 13 family members of ANC activist, Victor Ntuli
- weapons from ANC given to Inkhata
- ANC discovered an Inkhata attack on Sebokeng in 1990, alerted the authorities but nothing happened and security forces support Inkhata members in the massacre
Vigilant groups and authorities
Security forces supported vigilante groups terrorising school protesters in Orange Free State 1985
- 1988, vigilante groups blamed for 1200 deaths in the Edendale Valley
Internal Security Act 1982
Allowed for investigation and banning of people without reason
Inquest Act 1982
extended censorship but outlawed reporting deaths in custodyI
Intensification of protests, by who and when?
Protests intensified from 1984, higher youth participation and more violent.
- ANC back at the head of protests, ‘making South Africa ungovernable’
ANC spread in 1985
Use their ‘Freedom Radio’ and called for a ‘People’s War’
- People power became important
MK involvement in 1980s
- 1983, bomb outside the HQ of the South African Air Force killed 19 and 200 injures
- 1985, 137 attacks by MK but 31 members killed
