SA Chapter 4.2: Why Did The NP Begin Negotiations, 1985-89? Flashcards
(8 cards)
BOTHA’S REFORM AND ‘TOTAL STRATEGY’:
What was total strategy aimed to accomplish?
What had happened by 1986? What was reintroduced, after 40 years?
What did Botha establish in different parts of the country? Why? And why were they unpopular?
What was Botha’s first ten years of power labelled as by a journalist?
/Reform to appease criticism/mounting unrest.
/The pass laws had been largely abandoned, many aspects of apartheid relaxed. Private ownership of township plots.
/ Joint Management Councils (Military+police+officials) to impose control before further reform. People saw it as a military takeover.
/‘The Imperial Presidency’.
BOTHA’S REFORM AND ‘TOTAL STRATEGY’: TAKING TOTAL STRATEGY BEYOND THE BORDERS:
By what year had Botha managed to suppress ANC support in his neighbours? Which country did not? SA response?
What did non-military strategies include? Who was targeted? Where did the army stage direct raids? How many killed in Lesotho?
What was the counter insurgency unit, created in 19__ called? What was it meant to do? What was it later found out to be doing?
/1984… Lesotho openly supported the ANC. SA backed force attacked Lesotho and PM was toppled in 1986.
/Parcel bombs to ANC supporters and lawyers. Raids on ANC bases/houses in Mozambique, Lesotho (42 dead.)
/Koevoet made in 1979 was made to assist in fighting in border… found to be trying to ‘turn’ captured ANC guerrilas to gain information and infiltrate MK/township movements. Torture and killing… some success.
BOTHA’S REFORM AND ‘TOTAL STRATEGY’: A SHIFT IN THE BALANCE OF POWER:
When and who did SA engage in Angolan civil war? Impact of this?
When did the Cold War essentially end in SA? Impact?
Why did Botha withdraw from military elements of ‘total strategy’?
/1987, against Angola+Cuba. SA was overpowered, proving they couldn’t dominate the region.
/1988, Cuban forces withdrawn: stalemate. No cold war meant no ‘communist threat’ justification for apartheid.
/ There was less reasoning and support for it. Botha started exploring other possibilities.
INTERNATIONAL PRESSURES AND ECONOMIC TIES:
USA actions on SA in 19__? Impact of SA?
Which movement was still gathering steam? Supported by who? What was organised at Wembley in 19__?
/1985: USA banks refused to renew American loans, and Reagan supported disinvestment. Currency slumped.
/Free Nelson Mandela, backed by AAM and ANC in exile. 1988 event at Wembley to celebrate 70th birthday.
THE EFFECT OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY:
What could the state no longer control? But what could the ANC/UDF/comrades not control?
Why were the majority of whites daily lives not affected? However, what were their stances/how were they influenced?
Which powers encouraged negotiated settlement due to reform strategy being unlikely to suffice?
/State couldn’t control political developments in homelands, while UDF/ANC/comrades couldn’t threaten white military dominance.
/Much of the conflict geographically restricted. Some Afrikaners left, some right, protests widely reported through press.
/Western powers.
THE PATH TO TALKS:
When were Mandela and Sisulu transferred to mainland prison? Why? Benefits for Mandela+co?
When did Botha offer to release Mandela+co? Under what conditions? Why was this? Mandela response? Where was this response read out?
What did Mandela ask in a private letter, despite no authorisation from Tambo?
/1982: to give them better conditions but also divide the political prisoners. They were allowed more visitors= publicity, and were kept in the loop more than at Robben Island.
/1985: if he renounced violence/armed struggle… direct response to ANC call for a people war+ MK activities. Mandela refused… response read out by his daughter in a mass UDF rally at Soweto.
/Asked to discuss the possibility of ANC negotiations.
THE PATH TO TALKS:
Why and how did Botha undermine a move towards talks in 1985?
Despite this what did he do? Who met who in New York in 198_
How often did Mandela meet committees of government members in 1988-89? What did he talk most about? What were the governments issues towards the ANC? What was Mandela’s argument to this?
Why were they so sus of Mandela CP links? And the two stage revolution? How did Mandela brush this off?
What did the ANC emphasise SA needed? What did the NP think of this?
When was the UDF banned? Under what?
/He wanted to show that the gov was still in control, and armed struggle was doomed. Raided ANC bases (Z+Z.)
/Mandela was taken out of prison for a 3 hour meeting. Botha also authorised talks with ANC in exile… Broaderbond leaders met some ANC leaders in NYC in 1986.
/Met almost weekly, in his new house prison. Spoke most about ANC values/history which the gov were ignorant of. Gov issues were armed struggle and CP links. The cold war had ended- outdated analysis.
/Mandela worked closely with CP for years. Gov feared ANC support for second stage. ANC was not dominated by CP.
/A democratically elected gov. This wouldn’t give protection to white minority.
/1988 under emergency regulations.
THE PATH TO TALKS: RESISTANCE:
Which organisation was formed in 1985? Major mine strikes when? Who were they affiliated and sympathetic to?
What did the UDF essentially rename itself as? Why?
What did this movement organise in 198_? Aiming to do? What did direct action consist of in the New Defiance Campaign?
How many people marched around Eastern Cape, near VW factory? How many died?
/COSATU: became the most organised opposition movement. Mine strikes in 1987. UDF and ANC. But independent.
/MDM, to get around government banning orders.
/New Defiance Campaign, 1989. Kill off segregated facilities/ free political leaders. Blacks presented themselves for treatment at all whites hospitals, went on all whites buses, displayed ANC flags… police used water cannons
/80,000 marched, 23 killed
