Summary Civil Resistance in South Africa ( 1970s-1980s)
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Course
History
Institution
12
This summary is a in-depth and complete analysis and summary of Civil Resistance (civil protest and resistance to apartheid) in South Africa as prescribed in the 2021 History SAGS. Part of the grade 12 IEB History syllabus - Topic 4. Please leave a review if you are happy with the notes.
CIVIL RESITANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA 1970s – 1980s
The wide ranging internal and resistance to Apartheid in South Africa during the 1970s and
the 1980s. A prominent figure of the resistance was Steve Biko. At the time international
Anti-Apartheid movements put pressure on the government to implement reforms
APARTHEID BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS
Ideology that developed after 1968 as the
System of social, political and economic black community had to liberate themselves
segregation based on race (racism) psychologically from the effects of racism
and reject all ‘white’ values
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE STEVE BIKO
When people deliberately break the laws as Founder of the Black Consciousness
a part of a political campaign (ideology) movement and SASO
BC BPC BCM SASO SASM
Black Black Peoples Black South African South African
Consciousness Convention Consciousness Students Students
Movement Organisation Movement
THE CHALLENGE OF BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS TO THE APARTHEID STATE
After the Rivonia trial in 1964 many of the prominent resistance figures had been jailed by
the apartheid government.
This included nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Govan Mbeki. All resistance was silenced
by the government and strict laws were introduced to prevent resistance.
The ANC + PAC and SACP were banned and sent into exile.
NATURE AND AIMS OF BLCACK NATURE AND AIMS OF THE APARTHEID
CONSCIOUSNESS GOVERNMENT (1970s -1980s)
This was a positive philosophy that AIMS
gave value and dignity to black South 1. Introduce restrictive laws to supress
African. the black majority (political,
economic and social)
The Apartheid system had made black 2. No opposition was tolerated =
people feel inferior and unworthy repress any resistance
3. State control intensified
AIMS 4. Powerful security police in
1. Overcome/challenge the feeling of townships
inferiority in the black community 5. Imprisonment without trail,
2. Encourage black pride and self- detention of activists
respect
These ideas were influenced by the The apartheid governments system
Black Power Movement and aimed to black the black population
Pan-Africanism uneducated and subservient.
, THE ROLE OF STEVE BIKO
The emphasis here is on Biko’s idea and writing. He believed that people are confined by
their own personal complexes (inferiority) and that it is up to the individuals to empower
themselves. His writing is important in that it reveals the way he thought about conditions
in South Africa.
Steve Biko was born near king Williams town in the eastern cape, his mother
1946
was a domestic worker and his father was a policeman
He was a bright student and started to study medicine in the homelands.
1964 He became involved with the student politics – influenced by the Black Power
Movement + Civil Rights Movement in America
1968 Laid the plans for a black students organisation called SASO
1969 Launch both SASO and the BPC that grew from it
1971 First defined Black Consciousness in the SASO manifesto
THE BLACK CONCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT
Provide a set of ideas that black people Widespread appeal and quickly grew into a
could unite under formidable political and social force
It was an umbrella body for cultural, Organisations that spread the BC ideology
educational and religious organisations were SASO + SASM and SACM
BELIEFS
Rejected the term ‘non- Blacks must be proud of
Must develop skills
white’ to describe black their heritage and identity
(economic empowerment)
people = Black Pride
Blacks must assert themselves and do things Blacks must eliminate all thoughts of
for themselves inferiority that prevented people from the
= self-reliance + self determination confidence to assert themselves
AIMS + ACTIONS
Set up various organisations
Free black people from the
such as health projects,
Restore self-esteem and psychological effects of
student groups and
dignity among black people oppression and white
community projects to
supremacy (apartheid)
promote their aims
Advocate for equal rights Set up links for the ANC in Revive the politics of civil
+ support trade unions exile resistance
RESULTS OF THE BLACK CONCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT
Increase the confidence of the black people Untied people in a common goal to
and instil in them a sense of pride and overthrow the oppression of the SA
purpose Apartheid government (NP)
Became powerful on university campuses Biko’s death while in detention (1977) has a
and in urban communities large effect in SA and Abroad
Growing criticism of the Apartheid Sanction applied more vigorously as a form
Government + international condemnation of international condemnation.
SANCTIONS OPRESSION
Economic sanctions are applied by one or Oppression is when a group of people who
more countries against a targeted state. they have power use it in a way that is not fair,
may also be imposed for a variety of political, unjust or cruel.
military, and social issues.
, RESISTANCE TRADE UNION
A resistance movement is an organized association of workers in a particular trade,
effort by some portion of the civil industry, or company created for the
population of a country to withstand the purpose of securing improvements in pay,
legally established government or an benefits, working conditions, or social and
occupying power and to disrupt civil order political status through collective
and stability. bargaining.
EVENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA 1972 - 1977
1972 – Biko set up Black 1975 – the minister of bantu
Community programmes, clinics education MC Botha announced
and day-care centres, and black students would study half
established a National High School their subjects in Afrikaans (hated
Students Movements e.g. SASM Apartheid language), poor matric
results at end of 1975 plus lack of
job opportunities resulted in
1973 – BC support from black discontent
businessmen and white
intellectuals. Workers trade unions 1976 – by June SASM inspired by
organised strikes gripped South the BC ideas decided to hold a mass
Africa; the government clamped rally. Action committee formed to
down on BCM, SASO and BCM plan a rally/march for June 16.
members detained and Biko Police retained harshly – unleashed
arrested. a wave of violence in other
townships
1973-1974 – external factors hit
1977 – 18 august following
South African economy; the oil
widespread unrest, Biko was
price increased and cost of living
detained at a roadblock in Port
rose in south Africa, black students
Elizabeth. He was interrogated by
where frustrated.
police and taken to Pretoria
12 September – Steve Biko died in detention
THE BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS MOVMENT AND THE GOVERMENT
Black consciousness was at first perceived by the government as in agreement with
apartheid theories of ‘own affairs’. BCM emphasised the idea of black people working for
themselves. This fitted in with the governments idea of separate development and self-
governing homelands. The government soon realised that BCM aimed to end white
domination in South Africa. It tried to end the influence of BCM by…
Using the Terrorist Act ban and arrest Preventing the circulation of BC material by
people banning newspapers and journals
Killing those people considered a threat Curbing freedom speech
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