Crisis of apartheid 1980s

Grade 12

By Mlungisi Zwelihle Gumede

The crisis of apartheid began in 1980s when internal and external anti apartheid movements were taking place. Internal challenges who were facing government included the wide spread of violence in African townships and the increase of strikes by the workers. International sanctions weakened the economy and South African business men lost confidence in government, as a result P W Botha used his policy of total strategy and total onslaught to bring about reforms. These strategies or changes aimed to increase security measures to stamp out resistance, to appease Western powers  by making apartheid look less racist. These changes were met with growing internal and external resistance. However in this case it is of benefit to look at the international resistance.

The issue of apartheid in South Africa had influenced anti apartheid activists around the world. On 26 June 1959 a group of South African exiles and their British supporters had a meeting in London to call for a boycott on the import of South African goods like fruits and cigarettes. This meeting led to the founding of Anti-apartheid movement in Britain. The AAM campaigned to end apartheid by means of boycotts and isolating South Africa from international community. AAM was founded Ireland in 1964. One of the founder was minister of education Kader Asmal. AAM began a sport boycott, cultural, economic and academic boycott. AAM also gave support to liberation movements like African National Congress (ANC). The Irish Anti apartheid movement (IAAM) was founded by an ANC exile Kadar Asmal who arrived in Ireland in 1966, it helped to put pressure on Ireland government to impose sanctions against south Africa. It also funded political traits and financed the families of political prisoners.

Sport boycott as an international resistance, All sports in South Africa were segregated during Apartheid. This led to south Africa being banned from the Olympic games in 1963. The South African rugby team, springboks visited Britain in 1970s  as a result AAM organised the "stop the seventy Tour" campaign which aimed to disrupt and stop matches. This campaign chaired by Peter Hain aimed to stop springboks from playing rugby in Britain by invading the rugby pitch, the doors were locked in the hotel for South African players. This campaign became a huge success because matches were cancelled as a result of the AAM actions.

Cultural boycott as an international resistance, AAM launched cultural boycott in order for British musicians to stop performing in South Africa. They also banned the distribution of British films in 1965. The actors unions in Britain pledged not to work in South Africa. No international stars were allowed to visit South Africa and the television programmes that could be brought by SABC we're limited.

The academic boycott was imposed on South Africa during 1960s. This boycott deprived (denied) south African academic information needed for research as well as interaction with academic colleagues overseas. In Britain some publishers refused to print work produced by South African scholars. All South African scholars were isolated by using this boycott in Britain.

The consumer boycott played a pivotal role in fighting against apartheid in South africa. AAM influenced British not to buy any south African product or goods and this include wool and fruits. The consumer boycott was a success because many African farmers whose livelihoods depended on export of agricultural products, they were forced to try to find other markets. This could have resulted to the decline of income and increased in starvation.

The anti apartheid movements encouraged disinvestment as Western countries had invested billions of rand's in South Africa. Foreign companies provided both finance and technology that were important to south African economy. The AAM put pressure on British companies to withdraw their investment in South Africa. The township unrest of 1984 and 1985 weakened businesses confidence and Western companies began to pull out their funds from South Africa.

British decided to impose sanctions on South Africa, however some British opposed this decision and claimed that it would hurt South Africa instead of helping, as a result therefore they decided to to impose minor sanctions such as banning the export of arms and import of iron, steel and gold coins. This had a negative impact on South African economy and resulted in the increase of unemployment and devaluation of the rand. Many historians saw the sanctions as the one of the most vital factors that mostly contributed to the downfall of apartheid in South Africa.

The AAM became involved in the "free Mandela campaign" numerous artists and musicians released songs in response to free Mandela campaign. The AAM also produced a film about Mandela called "south Africa other leader". This campaign was a success because Mandela was released on the 11th February 1990.

 The collapse of apartheid and the Advent or coming of democracy in South Africa were regional supported by the group of southern African states called "front line states". These were Angola,Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The front line states were determined to fight against apartheid in South Africa, However they found it difficult to impose sanctions due to the fear of South African Defence Force(SADF). Raids discouraged ANC to launch an attack using their territories, but can these front line states succeeded in forming South African Development Coordinating Conference SADCC which was formed to promote their own development and free themselves from US economy.