TWE did the ANC make little progress in the 1970s?
- Intro: define ‘progress’ as making tangible gains towards ANC’s aims (vs gaining support for cause of
equality = potential for progress, not progress itself)
- 1970s ANC outlawed – little progress within SA (ineffective – this was ANC goal)
o However, did lay groundwork for 80s via action abroad
P1: The global AAM – greatest example of potential for furthering ANC’s cause
- Sporting action
o Stop the Seventy Tour (1969-70) following 1968 D’Oliveira Crisis
Although first mission (rugby tour of Ireland & Britain) was only disrupted, 1970
cricket tour by white SA team to England cancelled, SA expelled from international
test cricket that year
o 1973 Halt All Racist Tours campaign (stopped SA white rugby team to NZ)
o 1977 Commonwealth countries signed Gleneagles (discouraged playing SA)
Significant – international collaboration & action vs individual countries
o Although some tours continued (e.g. SA 1981 tour to NZ), these triggered widespread protest
- Although can argue this constitutes progress (via culturally isolating SA, limiting NP power to within
borders), ultimately did little to diminish NP oppression within SA
o Significant in increasing awareness, disrupted white way of life – however, ANC outlawed so
couldn’t exploit this to make progress out of potential
o Unwillingness of Britain to reinforce sporting boycotts with economic sanctions limited
impacts to unfulfilled progress
Conservative gov under Edward Heath reliant on economic interaction (natural
resources – especially during 1973 fuel crisis, valuable trading partner)
Provided SA with ‘immunity’, ‘constructive engagement’
P2: ANC within Africa
- 1969 Lusaka Manifesto (reiterated antipathy to apartheid)
o Isolated SA within its own continent, gave ANC certainty to operate within SA
- Growing exile community in Africa (MK bases in Zambia)
o Potential for increased ANC support
- However…
o effects of Wankie (1967) and Sipolilo (1968) campaigns meant 1970s ANC restricted in
military & political endeavours even outside direct oppression of NP & banning within SA
o Kauda (Zambian president) demanded Tambo find new MK base
o can argue position in Africa = actually step backwards (couldn’t launch military campaigns
from Zambia, ANC internal conflicts resulting from previous failures)
P3: ANC divisions
- failed campaign led to Chris Hani & other young MK memorandum
o critical of ANC leaders (‘careerism’, ‘globe-trotting’ bureaucrats), particularly Joe Modise
- although can argue Morogoro conference = success (ANC to admit all races – more potential support,
Tambo position more secure as re-elected without debate, shifts laid foundation for 1980s)
o led to backlash, break-away groups & dissent (Tennyson Makiwane & rival ANC group, left-
wing white exiles who attempted to take over SACTU in late 70s), groups expelled 1975
Ideological divisions couldn’t take advantage of potential progress from cultural
boycotts, for example, further stifled ANC activity
