How far did the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990 influence the transition to majority rule in 1994?

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South Africa Coursework

Philip Nacmanson 10/0

: How far did the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990 influence the transition to majority rule in 1994?

In February 1990 Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years of imprisonment for terrorism (he was leader of MK the terrorist branch of ANC in the 1960s). Thousands gathered in Cape Town to hear him speak. He began "Friends, comrades, fellow South Africans. I great you in the name of peace, democracy and freedom!" It set out his aims and policies for the future, to unite all South Africans and end Apartheid. He thanked all the people involved in freeing him and explained he was still loyal to the ANC cause. His speech gave new found confidence for Blacks

Mandela was elected Deputy President in March. ANC ended their guerrilla war against the state and the exiles returned to South Africa. He was gathering pace in his race to become the first black president in South Africa. At the end of 1991 all the parties agreed to hold a conference to make a new constitution to give democratic rights to everyone in South Africa. It was called CODESA (Convention for a Democratic South Africa).

The problem was that deep wounds don't heal completely and the two main parties ANC and the Nationalists disagreed. The ANC wanted a multi-racial, one person and a one-vote democracy immediately. De Klerks nationalists wanted a system that safeguarded white rights but had a multi-racial leadership. The political arguments erupted into violence on the streets again threatening civil war in South Africa. The ANC was divided and under intense pressure to create results from their supporters who were being attacked by Inkatha (the party for Zulus) who were backed by the white security forces. In May 1992 the ANC quit CODESA.

Things got worse and worse. In June 1992 in Boipatong, a black township in Johannesburg was attacked by Zulu, Inkatha supporters killing 39. They were probably armed and directed by the police to cause yet more unrest in the ANC camp. When De Klerk came to visit the aftermath he was attacked and in the ensuring battle with the police 3 more black youths were killed. Hundreds were killed in the violence the spark had ignited. The political aftermath was the end of talks between De Klerk and Mandela. ANC and White backed Inkatha supporters fought each other in Natal. Mandela realised that violence was not going to win him the next election and that civil war was inevitable without change. Mandela approached De Klerk and began peace talks again.

At the time De Klerk was also under extreme pressure from foreign countries like the USA to end apartheid. The economy was failing because of the boycotts imposed on South African exports. The boycotts were only imposed after 1990 when the Berlin wall came down and the cold war ended, before then there was a rival for South Africa's uranium and plutonium.

Mandela's charm, the threat of civil war, boycotts, UN pressure and a failing economy led to De Klerk handing ANC the thing they most desired; a one-person, one-vote election on 27th April 1994. De Klerk's decision ended Apartheid in South Africa as the ANC had already effectively won because of the vast reserves ANC had to call on to vote. The new South Africa would be divided into 9 provinces, with people free to live where they wanted. Any party with over 80 seats would have a deputy president. The deal was signed in November 1993.
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There was now a sense of unity between De Klerk and Mandela. It was Mandela's persuasive nature and reluctance to give in turned many white people to like Mandela and realise that he would lead them to peace. There was defiantly a change in South African politics when Mandela was realised. He gave a sense of togetherness and an almost revolutionary comradeship between the Nationalists and the ANC. Although right-wing extremists (like AWB led by Terblanche with Nazi like views) tried their best to let violence overshadow the election, Mandela achieved a landslide victory winning 7 of the ...

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