Unit 2F.2 South Africa, 1948 94: from apartheid state to rainbow nation
Notes were made using a combination of the following textbooks:
- Edexcel AS/A Level History, Paper 1&2: Searching for rights and freedoms in the 20th century
- Access to History: South Africa, 1948–94: from apartheid state to ‘rainbow nation’
UNIT 2: Radicalisation of resistance and the consolidation of National Party power, 1960–68
1. Resistance to apartheid and government reaction, 1960-1961
2. Creating a republic 1960-1961
3. African nationalist radicalisation 1961-1968
4. Strengthening ‘separate development’ 1961-1968
, UNIT 2: Radicalisation of resistance and the consolidation
of National Party power, 1960–68
1. Resistance to apartheid and government reaction, 1960-1961
- Peaceful protest
- Government usually responded with repressive legislation
- Many anti-apartheid campaigners were preoccupied with the Treason Trial and were
unable to organise ambitious protests
SHARPEVILLE MASSACRE
- Sharpeville was regarded as a model township
- Sharpeville was home to 37,000 Africans
- Over 40% of the population were under 18
- 1959 new police station = keen on checking passes
- Sharpeville was prime for radicalisation
- ANC called for nationwide anti-pass protests to begin on 31 March 1960
- PAC pre-empted this and announced one for the 21 March 1960
- PAC was active in Sharpeville (thanks to the Tsolo brothers)
- PAC membership may have been as little as 100 at the time of the protest — but the leaders
were confident they would be able to gather participants
- 21 March 1960 = a crowd of 5000 and 20,000 peacefully protesting outside police station
- 400 police armed with rifles and clubs
- 69 killed and 200 injured
- 70% shot in the back = running away
- Police were seen placing rocks in the hands of the dead to deny blame
Factors contributing to the Sharpeville Massacre:
- Police were on edge, 9 police colleagues had been killed in riots in Cato Manor
- Lieutenant Colonel Pienaar was indecisive
- State of emergency declared on 30 March 1960
- 10,000 people were arrested (2000 in first few days)
- 8 April = ANC and PAC declared illegal with the Unlawful Organisations Act
Uncertainty that followed:
- Increased demand for firearms
- Verwoerd was subject to an assassination attempt
- Military wings of ANC and PAC and the Liberal Party = bombing campaigns and violence
- Emigration exceeded immigration in the early 1960s
Notes were made using a combination of the following textbooks:
- Edexcel AS/A Level History, Paper 1&2: Searching for rights and freedoms in the 20th century
- Access to History: South Africa, 1948–94: from apartheid state to ‘rainbow nation’
UNIT 2: Radicalisation of resistance and the consolidation of National Party power, 1960–68
1. Resistance to apartheid and government reaction, 1960-1961
2. Creating a republic 1960-1961
3. African nationalist radicalisation 1961-1968
4. Strengthening ‘separate development’ 1961-1968
, UNIT 2: Radicalisation of resistance and the consolidation
of National Party power, 1960–68
1. Resistance to apartheid and government reaction, 1960-1961
- Peaceful protest
- Government usually responded with repressive legislation
- Many anti-apartheid campaigners were preoccupied with the Treason Trial and were
unable to organise ambitious protests
SHARPEVILLE MASSACRE
- Sharpeville was regarded as a model township
- Sharpeville was home to 37,000 Africans
- Over 40% of the population were under 18
- 1959 new police station = keen on checking passes
- Sharpeville was prime for radicalisation
- ANC called for nationwide anti-pass protests to begin on 31 March 1960
- PAC pre-empted this and announced one for the 21 March 1960
- PAC was active in Sharpeville (thanks to the Tsolo brothers)
- PAC membership may have been as little as 100 at the time of the protest — but the leaders
were confident they would be able to gather participants
- 21 March 1960 = a crowd of 5000 and 20,000 peacefully protesting outside police station
- 400 police armed with rifles and clubs
- 69 killed and 200 injured
- 70% shot in the back = running away
- Police were seen placing rocks in the hands of the dead to deny blame
Factors contributing to the Sharpeville Massacre:
- Police were on edge, 9 police colleagues had been killed in riots in Cato Manor
- Lieutenant Colonel Pienaar was indecisive
- State of emergency declared on 30 March 1960
- 10,000 people were arrested (2000 in first few days)
- 8 April = ANC and PAC declared illegal with the Unlawful Organisations Act
Uncertainty that followed:
- Increased demand for firearms
- Verwoerd was subject to an assassination attempt
- Military wings of ANC and PAC and the Liberal Party = bombing campaigns and violence
- Emigration exceeded immigration in the early 1960s
