Reactions to apartheid policy in South Africa

Reactions to apartheid policy were varied and widespread, both within South Africa and internationally. Here are some key reactions:

1. Internal Resistance:

• Anti-Apartheid Movements: Organizations like the African National Congress (ANC), the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), and the Black Consciousness Movement led protests, strikes, and other forms of resistance against apartheid.
• Mass Mobilization: Events like the 1976 Soweto Uprising and other mass protests demonstrated the widespread opposition to apartheid among the black population.
• Use of terrorism: Some African nationalists adopted terrorist style of opposition like destruction of white men’s plantations and properties.
• Trade boycotts: African sometime desisted from buying from white men’s businesses.

2. International Pressure:

• Economic Sanctions: Many countries imposed economic sanctions on South Africa, which put pressure on the apartheid government.
• Cultural Boycotts: International cultural boycotts, including bans on sports teams and artists, further isolated South Africa.

3. Economic Struggles:

• Economic Decline: The apartheid system led to economic inefficiencies and a decline in international trade, which weakened the South African economy.
• Labor Unrest: Strikes and labor unrest disrupted the economy and highlighted the unsustainable nature of apartheid.

4. Political Changes:

• W. de Klerk’s Presidency: When F.W. de Klerk became president in 1989, he initiated reforms that led to the dismantling of apartheid.
• Release of Nelson Mandela: The release of Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990 was a significant step towards ending apartheid.

5. End of the Cold War:

• Shift in Global Politics: The end of the Cold War reduced the strategic importance of South Africa to Western countries, leading to increased international pressure for reform.

6. Negotiations and Compromises:

• CODESA: The Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) brought together various political groups to negotiate the transition to democracy.
• Interim Constitution: The drafting of an interim constitution laid the groundwork for a non-racial democratic South Africa.

7. First Democratic Elections:

• 1994 Elections: The first democratic elections in 1994, in which all citizens could vote, marked the official end of apartheid and the beginning of a new era of democracy in South Africa.

These reactions, combined with the determination and resilience of the South African people, ultimately led to the end of apartheid and the establishment of a democratic society.

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Thanks

Dr. Bbosa Science