The human loss of life was also another reason why Apartheid was abolished in 1990. One hundred or so people killed in mass riots or even one or two people who were tortured and then murdered, caused a lot of media coverage and a lot of hate from people who did not like Apartheid both internally and externally. When Steve ‘Bantu’ Biko was imprisoned, then brutally murdered, then driven one thousand kilometers away to a hospital many people were absolutely outraged, it was even published in English newspapers. That event sparked major fury towards the South African government and ultimately caused the Apartheid system to become detested throughout the world, this put South Africa under a huge amount of pressure.
The 1980’s was a time where the biggest, longest and most violent black uprisings in South African history began, the riots spread all over the country and soon there was violence erupting everywhere. The majority of South Africans were unhappy and voiced their concerns by protest, reasons for anger included political deprivation, economic deprivation, ANC exiled and other apartheid laws. Heavily armed riot police tried to break up the rioters but to no avail. The people were tired of prejudice, they did not want a reformed apartheid, they wanted no apartheid. The violence was at an all time high by the year 1985 with mass demonstrations and riots erupting everywhere, this forced the NP government to declare a state of emergency. The growth of violence was one factor that led to the end of Apartheid because the South African government received a lot of pressure from other countries and world leaders. It was also the increased media coverage from hostile countries which showed the world how widespread and devastating Apartheid had become, but it wasn't just one event that caused the end of Apartheid it was all of them put together which finally ended Apartheid in 1990.
Another factor which caused the end of apartheid was that before 1974 the countries bordering and neighboring South Africa were friendly and created a cover zone, which prevented many other hostile people from getting to South Africa and trying to stop Apartheid. By this time many international powers despised South Africa’s policies and they demanded reform. It was very difficult to get into South Africa due to all of the friendly countries bordering South Africa to the North. These countries included Angola, South West Africa, Rhodesia, Botswana and Mozambique. These countries were friendly towards South Africa because they needed her resources through trade and the protection that the South African government offered.
The Cold War was another vital factor that led to the demise of the apartheid government, the link between the Cold War and the downfall of Apartheid was the fact that apartheid was only allowed to continue due to the Cold War. The US wanted South Africa on her side and wanted to keep her happy as South Africa was viewed as a pillar of capitalistic strength in Africa. The US also wanted control of the trade and shipping routes that go past South Africa and did not want them to fall in the hands of the soviets. It was only once communism had ended that the US put pressure on South African to end apartheid.
All of these consequences of Apartheid finally came about to bring it to an end with a man called De Klerk, who was an instrumental figure in bringing about the end of the Apartheid regime. De Klerk replaced P.W Botha in 1989, De Klerk was a man who went against his family’s history and legacy and ultimately saved South Africa from a bloody civil war. He was the man who started the negotiations for the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC and PAC all which ended the brutal regime of Apartheid and saved South Africa from more years of bloodshed and suffering.
