Anti-Apartheid Movement of South Africa and Nelson Mandela By Leslie Kelly

What is apartheid? The separation of the races in South Africa.

What does South Africa have? Gold Diamonds Fertile farmlands

In the 1700’s… English and the Dutch colonize South Africa English domination of the Dutch (known as Boers or Afrikaners) resulted in the Dutch establishing the new colonies of Orange Free State and Transvaal. The discovery of diamonds in these lands around 1900 resulted in an English invasion which started the Boer War.

In time… The British leave The Dutch or Afrikaners (Afrikaner National Party) gain power In 1942 in Johannesburg, South Africa we meet Nelson Mandela. Watch court scene 5:00-6:35

So the white Dutch in 1948… - Were afraid of black political aspirations so they invented apartheid as a means to maintain control over the economic and social system of South Africa. Initially, the aim of apartheid was to maintain white domination while extending racial separation. Starting in the 60's, a plan of ``Grand Apartheid'' was executed, emphasizing territorial separation and police repression.

Apartheid laws 317 laws Marriage between whites and blacks is illegal “White-only” jobs Land issues, jobs, housing, Constitutional rights… Population registrations White Black (Africans) Colored (mixed) All non-whites are to carry pass books with fingerprints, pictures… film 8:45-10:50

Passbooks Given to at age 16 On a computer database (US based IBM) Gave instant identification and any prior government opposition Workers could not live with their families which broke down the family structure Taxes and rents much higher than the whites.

1943- Alexandra Bus Boycott Lasted only 9 days. Fares went down. Nelson Mandela gets a real taste of leadership. Film 12:50-17:42 He participates in the boycott but then becomes relentless in his dreams for the blacks. He fights the pass laws.

Defiance Campaign They must fight the pass laws and all the other laws. They will defy all unjust laws 10,000 people protest. 8,500 will be imprisoned. Nelson Mandela is one of them. Film 19:08- 21:15

Winnie After his wife leaves him, Nelson meets Winnie, a future activist and wife. She is a social worker at a hospital. They marry in 1958. Wedding scene 30:00-31:22 Winnie is arrested during a protest on passes.

Bantu Authorities Act 1951 Set up governments on African reserves, known as “homelands”. Africans were assigned to homelands. Voting was restricted to their homelands So this set them up as citizens of their homelands, not South Africa. Yet South Africa maintains control over the homelands. …Their vote means nothing.

Public Safety Act of 1953 Gov’t could declare a state of emergency Strict laws and penalties (whippings, fines, prison) Made protesting illegal

Sharpeville- 1960 Blacks would not carry their passes, public burnings. Government calls for a state of emergency. This lasts for almost 5 months. 69 die and 187 were wounded

What to do? Mandela does not believe that non-violence can work anymore. In 50 years it has only brought about more restrictions. He heads underground. ANC (African National Congress) training camp Begins the sabotage campaign against power and phone lines, power plants, military installations, government offices. Film- 31:23-42:00

Arrested Mandela and other leaders of the African National congress (ANC) are arrested. Film 42:00-44:00 1963- trial. Mandela will defend himself. Film 44:00- 52:25 June 12, 1964. All found guilty, but no death penalty, life in prison.

“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” –Nelson Mandela

Preferential treatment for whites

Penalties for breaking laws Severe You could be detained for months without a hearing and your family would not be notified Torture Those who were tried were sentenced to death, banished from the country or thrown in jail for life.

Prison life- Robben Island Rarely allowed a visitor Crushed stones daily All “boys” forced to wear shorts Letters were censored Political organizing happens in prison. Film- 52:25- 1:00:10

Winnie is arrested Solitary confinement for 16 months, beaten… Film- 1:10:00- 1:13:00 Let out in Sept. 1970. A more militant Winnie emerges. Nelson must teach the younger prison inmates about the ANC. Film- 1:19:30- 1:23:57

Free Mandela Movement After 18 years in Robben Island Prison the ANC leaders are sent to another prison. Winnie gathers supporters and wants violence. Film- 1:27:21- 1:32:28

Offered his freedom Mandela is offered freedom in 1985 in exchange for renouncing violence, he refuses. He meets with Winnie after 21 years apart. His daughter joins the movement. Film- 1:32:38- 1:37:08

1988- Another prison Sent to a new prison home. Allowed visitors, has a cook, family gatherings allowed. We see a much more militant Winnie and a more peaceful Nelson. Film- 1:44:40- 1:45:57

Talks Begin Mandela will not renounce the armed struggle. He will not disassociate himself from the ANC. He states, “when we come to power, there will be no revenge.”

A new regime The generation that made apartheid is now aging. The new generation of politicians take over Restrictions are relaxed

F.W. de Klerk Becomes president of South Africa in 1989. de Klerk works to dismantle apartheid. de Klerk releases Mandela in February, 1990. Film- 1:49:25- 1:53:30

CODESA- 1992 negotiations de Klerk wants blacks and whites to share power. ANC wants blacks to lead. Mandela wants to share until the whites fear subsides. Nelson and Winnie separate Film- 1:56:11- 2:02:14

ANC- mass actions 1992 Violence erupts Mandela addresses the nation. “I have forgiven them.” Film- 2:05:15- 2:09:18

April 27, 1994 Election Their vote now means something. Mandela is now president of South Africa Film- 2:09:18- 2:11:05

What else affected the end of apartheid? Embargos of guns and technology. Very difficult to monitor. Economic sanctions. Compliance was encouraged in the US. Many protests against South Africa. Highlighted by the media. US companies were embarrassed by this exposure and their profits began to fall. This fueled the new regime.

Aftermath In the mid 1970’s black school children boycotted schools. This has left a generation of blacks with no education. This is a lost generation that could bring about instability to South Africa.

More problems Backlog of housing Gov’t distribution of water Lack of sanitation Low wages Unemployment rate of over 30%.... But they lead themselves and are no longer oppressed.

Quotes

References Nelson Mandela- Long Walk to Freedom Film- Long Walk to Freedom