What would you consider the most decisive or influential forces to bring down apartheid in South Africa?

by ruchurnesmithgmailcom (student)

University Degree Historical and Philosophical studies

What would you consider the most decisive or influential forces to bring down apartheid in South Africa?

The dark days of Apartheid finally came to an end in 1990 when the “Father” of South Africa, Nelson Mandela was released from prison. In many ways it can be argued that the abolishment of apartheid is attributed to Mandela and in part this is true. However, the factors which led to the downfall of the repressive Apartheid regime are not as simple as assigning it to one sole determinant, but a combination and culmination of varying factors. The main influential forces herein discussed can be classed into 3 categories. Firstly, internal pressure from the black protest and its political parties; secondly, the international isolation which enforced economic sanctions and sporting boycotts; and finally, the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union as the cold war relaxed (US Department of State, 2001). As such this essay will briefly outline these main influences which brought down Apartheid and assess which played the most profound part in its demise.

The oppressive actions of the government inflicted on the black community were well known before the 1960’s. However, the most prolific years in the anti-apartheid movements occurred after this time in the form of internal resistance from small and isolated groups (Louw, 2004). These groups were unable to join forces due to the lack of knowledge and understanding of the widespread nature of the regimes actions and the fading belief in their freedom, which thus dulled the effect of anti-apartheid movements. The bans issued upon the ANC and other large scale political parties along with their leaders further reinforced the isolation of groups and lack of coordinated “struggle” (Callinicos, 1994). In an effort to overcome the limitations of this isolated resistance and boost black resistance actions, black consciousness became one of the defining movements. Spearheaded by Steve Biko, this grassroots effort was forged from the political vacuum left from the bans imposed on the large political groups such as the African National Congress (ANC) and Pan African Congress (PAC) (Clark & Worger, 2004). Biko intended for this political conscious movement to help black citizens celebrate their “blackness” and take pride in their blackness as it was an important phase in their own personal liberation (Clark & Worger, 2004). In an ideological manner, the movement aimed to help the black community move away from their perception of themselves as second class citizens. Other prominent leaders of the time included Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo. Walter Sisulu was a South African anti-apartheid activist and member of the African National Congress. He was an active member of the ANC and travelled around the world gaining support for the apartheid struggle. Oliver Tambo was also a member of the ANC and worked alongside Sisulu trying to gain political power against apartheid as well as organising protests and riots to convince the South African Government to change (Louw, 2004). These three men as well as many other activists inspired the black communities to take a stand against the biased laws. They inspired and motivated protests such as the Soweto riots, the Vaal Triangle uprising, the Sharpeville Massacre and many other demonstrations (Callinicos, 1994). In undertaking these demonstrations, they fuelled Oliver Tambo’s notion of making Apartheid ungovernable.

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With so many prolific leaders and large-scale anti-apartheid political groups in action within the country, it begs the question as to why the apartheid regime did not collapse at least a decade earlier than it did. One of the reasons is attributed to the fact that there was a lack of centralised and combined ideology and action despite the rise of black violence and belief in their cause. Disagreements existed between the ANC and their ally the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) (Callinicos, 1994). The UDF came into existence in 1983 and was an important political party as it was multi-racial (Louw, 2004). Its aims were to unite all non-white resistance groups, and have a stable future under the Freedom Charter it shared with the ANC. Its leaders were people like Archbishop Tutu, Albertina Sisulu, and Winnie Mandela. The IFP on the other hand, run by Mangosuthu Buthelezi advocated the use of nonviolence (Callinicos, 1994) and as such were constantly at odds with the ANC which opened Umkhonto we Sizwe, the specific armed forces aspect of the party (South Africa History Online, 1991). The South African police and other supporters of apartheid relished this internal fighting of the resistance groups as it made the black community appear as if they were not ready to rule the country. Supporters of apartheid stated that the blacks were too violent and not willing to accept other people's views, which is needed if everyone is to live freely in a democratic society. Despite the disagreements which allowed apartheid to continue, the combined effort of large scale demonstrations undertaken by these anti-apartheid groups would serve as a catalyst for international support for the black cause and condemnation against the South African government

The decline in power of the Soviet Union as a result of the decay of the Cold War played an integral part in dismantling the apartheid regime. The lack of international exposure and outcry regarding apartheid was largely based upon the need of the western world, namely the U.S for capitalistic gain. As such the relationship between the Cold War and the downfall of Apartheid was the fact that apartheid was only allowed to continue due to the Cold War (US Department of State, 2001). America viewed South Africa as the stronghold of economic wealth and strength within Africa and as such did not want to jeopardize its control over the trade and shipping routes, with it falling under Soviet communist rule. Thus successful international involvement and support in dismantling apartheid was not achieved until the decline of the Soviet Union. The decline of Soviet power also coincided and likely affected the rapid trend of other African nations move toward a democratic and self-determining society. The Western countries no longer feared the influence of Communism on developing African governments and therefore a period of decolonisation within Africa occurred. The fact that countries surrounding South Africa were becoming independent was a poignant factor as it helped make the South African government more vulnerable. By 1980, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Malawi and Zambia had all become independent and were now hostile towards South Africa and its oppressive measures against the black community (Clark & Worger, 2004). This breakdown in alliance between South Africa and its neighbouring countries meant that South Africa was no longer able to dictate and retain its economic 'strangle hold' on the other nations. In addition the goods such as gold, diamonds and other minerals, which South Africa supplied to the rest of the world were instead produced by the neighbouring independent nations (Clark & Worger, 2004). This meant that the international countries were still able to receive the majority of the products which they usually would have received while still able to enact economic sanctions upon the apartheid regime.

International intervention was received at the earliest known date in 1962 by the United Nations which invoked trading boycotts with the intent of trying to get the government to reverse the policy of Apartheid. This was the first step that the international countries took to try and make an end of Apartheid. However trading boycotts proved to be ineffective with the country’s wealth of diamond and gold. The boycotts initiated by the UN in 1962 were in response to the massacre in Sharpeville which occurred in 1960 (BBC World Service, 2014). The importance of this event within the context of the demise of apartheid isn’t the death and injured toll but rather the marking of a turning point in the South African history. The event canon balled the apartheid regime onto centre stage on an international level and became the beginning of the country’s increasing isolation from the international community. South Africa was also facing anti-apartheid governments in other nations. The Swedish government, who were strongly opposed to apartheid, supported and donated money to groups within South Africa against apartheid. The British Anti-Apartheid Movement however, instead of donating money, demonstrated their disapproval through sanctions on the sporting competitions between Britain and South Africa (Keech, Houlihan, 1999). They banned South Africa from the 1964 Olympics and stopped cricket and rugby matches between the nations. Investment was another potent casualty suffered as a result of the economic sanction. Many western businesses notably Coca-Cola, began to pull out from the South African markets as they became hesitant on the amount of their profits. Foreign banks such as the Barclays Bank based in South Africa declined to extend loans and began to pull out of the country, heavily affecting the economy (Hirsch, 1989). The trade embargoes also greatly affected the economy as South Africa was not getting any of the vital supplies which they needed and the excess products which they made were going to waste as their primary consumers (western countries) refused to buy these products. Therefore, South African companies had no money with which to pay their workers causing an increase of black unemployment and poverty and a decrease in white incomes as well as a raise in their taxes. Consequently, protests began in South Africa. The financial crisis in 1985 was a direct cause of these imposed sanctions (Hirsch, 1989). The crisis initiated the drop of the Rand and sent the government to declare a state of emergency (Hirsch, 1989). Such an increase in international condemnation and internal demonstrations created an anarchic society thereby forcing the population to believe that it was time for change in South Africa.

As evidenced above, the importance of international support and intervention cannot be understated. The boycotts and economic sanctions imposed against the apartheid regime can be seen to be more of an influential force that finally triggered wholesale changes to occur within the country. Yet the most decisive factor behind the fall of apartheid was the opposition within the country from black movements. Their protest and other demonstrations, which at times ended with hundreds dead and thousands more injured, drastically eroded the regime and created doubts within the white faction about their system. Intrinsically the efforts by anti-apartheid groups within the country was a double-edged sword that forced the western world to take notice and intervene.

References

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