Apartheid in South Africa

The Crisis of Apartheid in the 1980s

• The government made attempts to reform Apartheid
• By the 1980s, the Apartheid system started in 1948 and reformed in 1959 was unworkable
• Apartheid began to collapse due to contradictions of the economic life in South Africa

Contradictions of Apartheid

• A rapidly growing economy needed more black labor in towns
• The old concept of 'surplus' black labor no longer made sense
• Black people knew of the increasing need for labor and made their way to white cities
• It was not possible to keep blacks in designated homelands because the homelands could not exist without external support
• Homelands only comprised 13% of the country and were split into pieces
• They were economically dependent on the white South African Gov
• All South Africans depended on others for employment
• Integration ensured the country could move towards a prosperous future

The Pass System Breaks Down

• Pass Laws were enforced by white governments to restrict black people's movement
• Black South Africans were not allowed in white areas without permission (a pass)
• The laws were intensified when diamonds/gold were discovered by white prospectors
• Black labor was wanted but they could not be part of mining communities
• Separation was enforced more rigidly when gold/diamonds were mined on a large scale
• Pass Laws designed by the National Party in the 1950s were more severe
• Blacks needed a 'dompas' to live in white areas, which made up 87% of the country
• Failure to carry a pass meant deportation to their ethnic group's homeland
• This system was enforced throughout the 1960s and 1970s
• Deported means to be sent back to the place they had come from
• Ethnic group is a social group that consists of members who define themselves through a specific history, religious beliefs, language and culture
• The Apartheid state stressed ethnic groups to keep black people divided
• The Pass Laws became difficult and expensive to enforce in the 1980s
• People ignored them as homelands could not provide employment
• Rural people streamed into urban areas for jobs, and the laws did not suit the modern economy which needed black labor
• Pass Laws were scrapped in 1986

Contradictions in Apartheid, Labor and Economy

• The number of black laborers in cities was growing
• The government tried to keep black workers in homelands, but white urban areas needed them
• Apartheid South Africa could not be maintained without black workers
• Trade unions in South Africa were initially just for whites
• The Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) was formed in 1979
• The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) followed in 1982
• The unions became militant and engaged in strike action
• FOSATU merged with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in 1985
• The unions influence/movements are described in Chapter 16
• Necessary economic integration made 'petty Apartheid' laws problematic
• The Gov under P.W. Botha moved away from the petty laws by allowing all races to use 'international hotels'
• The Gov removed separate entrances for whites/non-whites in parks, cinemas, and theatres
• The Gov abolished laws like the Mixed Marriages Act and the Immorality Act
• Alterations were for show and to quieten international criticism

The 1982 Urban Bantu (Black Local) Authorities Act

• It was an attempt to give more power to local councillors in the townships and the tricameral system
• The unit discussed P.W. Botha's government to reform the Apartheid system
• People wanted the system abolished and not reformed
• Botha made changes but they were insufficient
• The Black Local Authorities Act of 1982 gave more power to local councillors in the townships
• P.W. Botha amended the Urban Bantu Councils Act of 1961
• The new act created local government structures elected by black residents, similar to those in 'white' areas
• Was an improvement on the previous community councils
• Gave residents a limited form of local autonomy to contribute to the budget by local rents/levies
• Black township residents did not have the same power as their white counterparts
• Remained under the control of the minister in the white government and did not have access to Parliament
• The act took effect in August 1983 and was immediately resisted for not promoting political rights for black people Strikes, boycotts and general resistance occurred, ending in clashes between those who were in support and those who opposed
• The Act was typical of much of the legislation being put forward by the Botha government: more inclusive, but not enough to satisfy black people
• Was criticised by the Conservative Party (CP) for giving too much power to black people

The Tricameral System

• Tricameral means ‘having three chambers'
• This planned parliamentary reconstruction was the Botha government's most elaborate attempt to reform the Apartheid system
• Plans were organized by Chris Heunis, the leader of the National Party (NP) in the Cape
• It was put to a public vote in a referendum in November 1983
• Reforms gave colored/Indian voters power by giving them chambers in an expanded parliament
• The Senate was abolished and replaced by a multiracial State President's Council
• State president also received increased powers similar to the president of the USA+ combined powers
• The president would be elected for seven years by an electoral college
• System split parliament into a White House of Assembly, a Coloured House/Representatives, and Indian House/Delegates
• Proportions justified by the rough population ratio of whites to coloureds to Indians, 4:2:1
• The three houses met separately to debate 'own affairs' but met as one group to discuss 'general affairs'
• Whites had a built-in majority secured in the upper house, the President's Council
• This ensured that the party had the right to nominate members
• No provision was made for African representation - it continued to occur through the homeland system
• Was based on the Apartheid race classification system
• The whites-only referendum took place November of 1983 with voters asked whether or not they supported the tricameral system
• Those who wanted to extend power voted in favor
• Conservatives and those against voted against

The Results of the Reform

• It was clear that the reforms did not go far enough causing among liberals, some to boycott, others chose to spoil their ballots and some voted 'no'
• Botha's reforms received the support of a majority of white voters with the vote 66% in favor and 33.5% against
• the percentage of spoilt ballots was 0.5% with the new constitution taking effect in September 1984
• However, it was not supported by most coloured or Indian voters because a large majority if them boycotted the elections

Growing Power of Trade Unions

• For years only white workers were allowed to belong to trade unions
• The first black trade union was the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union (ICWU) formed in 1919 by Clements Kadalie,
• The South African Trades and Labour Council (non-racial) was formed in the 1930s.
• SACTU (South African Congress of Trade Unions) was formed in 1955 and was aligned to the ANC with a militant approach
• Many SACTU members were banned/ restricted so it was forced underground and lost effectiveness
• In 1973, there was increase trade union activity as a result of poor labor
• The Black Consciousness Movement started with a dockworkers’ strike in Durban
• Workers saw influence on the economy, and that they could put pressure on the government politically

New Pressures for Workers Rights

• After the Soweto Uprising of 1976, the Gov decided to change labor regulations hoping to prevent its unrest
• The government was being forced to recognize unions
• After strikes in 1973, the government came under pressure from other groups, employers with trade unions
• This was achieved by legalizing black trade unions and working with them to address their grievances
• Pressure increased following the general discontent in the country after the Soweto Uprising of 1976
• A commission was set up under Nicholas Wiehahn to probe the matter
• Wiehahn recommended that black trade unions be allowed to be formed
• the recommendation was implemented from 1979 and the FOSATO was formed that year to work towards improved wages and working conditions for black workers
• FOSATU was influential at the time, redefining the economic landscape
• This meant that discrimination in unions had come to an end
• the government attempted to enforce the registration of all trade unions, wanting to monitor their activities
• Many unions were suspicious, refusing registration
• In 1981, the Government extended control over unions
• Restrictions caused the amount of unions to increase rapidly from 1980
• Black Consciousness aligned federation
• council of Unions of south Africa (CUSA) was formed
• The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) large base meant becomes involved in political conflict
• caused discontent among some white members
• In 1983 many of the unions declared their clear alliance with other organizations to form the UDF against the Tricameral Parliament, which had ties with the freedom charter

Political Alliance With Communities

• Unions felt more confident that they were linked
• Many of the UDF's members organized boycotts and stay-aways which led to clashes
• Liberation movements, and student groups had the same feeling

Combining Forces

• United action by unions also meant the end for small labor related incidents
• The action would have to be noted
• In June of 1985 it took off which was led by cyril ramahosa
• There was opposition to the form
• In durba the trade unions were called COSATU, FOSATU merged with the federation
• 2 men planned to create action on behalf of workers but organizing was needed
• In 1985, the COSATU Freedom Charter was made in 55
• Some union trade members wanted to focus more on demands
• there was a great deal of support increasing the strength of unions
• Action was at time of the time and workers were in day
• The government complained that CUSATO was simply the front for the banned organization
• There was an institution displeased with the launch that at the time had difference

Response to Bothas Reforms

• the reforms that brought about were not successful because it did not match those of a the majority
• south Africans were expected to want more
• this was a great disappointment to africans that led to great anger for boths
• Bothas reformed system and managed to the humiliate the people
• they were steadfast in ther opposition
• The actions was led against by a number of civil organization with the goal that was new
• A new methods of mobilization of many of there churchs made available to help with helping supprort for familes
• The arch bishop of desmond too was to go on protest
• support for the governer discent and haasten

Labours Rolling Actions

• concepts such a key role such africa
• workers take through boysotts
• it gained momentum to see south africa who destroyd

Civil Action With no Governemtn

There would be action to the government

• There was something wrong
• there was no one in charge
• There was protest that led to distafastion in what was going on
• Made heard anger and demoliton
• improvey communication among people
• An association to orgaize reduction with a try to secure resignation that accompned with the strike

Democratic Front

• January there would be opposission to join forces
• united democratic front formed and brought feet
• there had about 700 affilates and members
• include trad and your organizations
• the launched ways and demopmstrated
• the government went to see efectivene
• restricted was was of many members
• the national felt would have been a too ready