To what extent do you agree that the Treason Trial was a political opportunity for opponents of apartheid?
Intro:
- 1956, 156 members of Congress Alliance arrested, accused of Treason
- Defining ‘political opportunity’ as opposition gaining chance to exploit the trial to their advantage (e.g.
by gaining more support/attention, threatening apartheid)
- Overall, although (leaders in proceedings until 1961, triggered organisational split) – opposition did
use Treason Trial to their advantage (sparked opposition, new platform/publicity, brought legitimacy
to Freedom Charter, leaders could meet during proceedings, action continued during trial)
o Therefore = significant political opportunity for opposition
P1: Agree
- Sparked popular opposition
o PAC established 1959, mobilised new groups, more radical
E.g. PAC mass action 21st March
o Became new focus for resentment towards gov
- Gave opposition publicity & platform
o Increased support, media took interest
o Showed multi-racial nature of apartheid struggle (harnessed new support, undermined
principles of apartheid in itself)
- Gave Freedom Charter new legitimacy
o Called for fully democratic SA, fair distribution of land & wealth, non-racialism
o Important as used to garner international support
1956 British Defence and Aid formed by Canon John Collins & others to support
plight of those on trial (smuggled money for legal aid)
- Leaders could meet ‘openly and uninhibited’
o Confined to 2 adjoining cells
o Albert Luthuli: ‘what distance other occupations, lack of funds, and police interference had
made difficult – frequent meetings – the government had now insisted on’
Although can argue leaders limited as were confined, could continue to organise
while proceedings continued – new opportunity
P2: Disagree
- Opposition leaders tied up in legal proceedings until 1961
o Unable to organise demonstrations/partake in struggle
- Gov suppression of opposition increased, hurt movt
- Caused lack of unity within opposition movt
o 1958 organisational split, PAC formed April 1959
Direct result of Treason Trial – ANC leaders in Transvaal elected by slate as
candidates too busy with Treason trial to campaign
However…
- Leaders acquitted, action continued despite, could met during proceedings
- Gov tried harder to suppress organisations, implies failure to do so with Treason Trial = significant
o Mandela wrote in biography, Treason Trial sparked: ‘new level of conflict with anti-apartheid
organisations’
o Trial made NP look weak as had failed to dismantle Congress Alliance & eradicate the
Freedom Charter
- Can argue lack of unity brought new opposition ideas (PAC Africanist), mobilised new groups
