2024
Section A – theme 1?? Hasn’t been in a while
Section B – earlier apartheid??
2023
Section A – sources 3 and 4 for investigating the importance of FW de Klerk in the process of dismantling apartheid
Worked will with Mandela
Sympathetic to African cause
Condemned white extremism
CODESA 1 AND 2
Was Mandela’s deputy as national party won second majority in the first democratic elections in SA
Section B – in the years 1948-61 the weaknesses of African nationalism were more significant than the strengths of
the national party in explaining the failure of opposition to apartheid OR how accurate is it to say that in the years
1968-83 the power of the national party was seriously undermined?
Intro: disagree, weaknesses of African nationalism as due to national party strengths e.g. divide and rule, ANC,PAC
ANCYL were divided due to differing ideologies however national party strengths were arguably contributed to these
bitter divides and their strength as a united movement and body was more significant in allowing them to entrench
apartheid and explain the failure of opposition to it.
Para1: weaknesses of African nationalism, differing ideologies e.g. PAC, ANC, ANCYL, SAIC, CPSA etc…, black pride was
low due to national party and historical subjugation of black Africans, opposition lacked support, often fizzled out e.g.
defiance campaign 1952 however weaknesses in opposition to apartheid can be explained through the strengths of
the national party suggesting that it was the most significant factor in explaining failure of opposition
Para2: national party strengths – growth in Afrikaner identity, Broderbund, Laager mentality, well organised,
homogeneity, voortrekker monument, entrenchment of apartheid in a de jure manner through law, population
registration act 1950, prohibition of mixed marriages act 1950, immorality act 1949, Bantu education act 1953,
abolition of passes act 1952, pass laws and the regulation of them, repressive acts e.g. censorship and suppression of
communism act resulted protesters being isolated prevented anti-apartheid rhetoric from spreading – all of this
suggests rather than a weakness in African nationalism, it was the forced subjugation and lack of options that black
Africans had which resulted in failure to opposition as a result of national party strengths reinforcing it as the most
significant factor
Para3: lack of internation condemnation, this could also be considered significant as it might have led to the
proliferation of apartheid and therefore the reason for failure of opposition, many had investments in SA, was gold
and diamond/mineral rich, did not want to withdraw these investments, although countries domestic population
may have protested governments usually did not due to fear of seeming soft on communism as SA was seen as a
useful bulwark against communism as well as the fact that initially it would have been hypocritical for France and
Britain to speak out as they still had colonies where natives remained subservient. UNs security council had a high
American influence and France Britain, and the US had the power of veto. Pliant neighbours e.g. Rhodesia and
Angola were dependent on SA for trade and egress.
Conclusion – national party strengths were most significant as they engineered the environment where domestic and
international criticism was difficult, it was definitely more significant than the weaknesses of African nationalism as it
was the main factor which contributed to the weak cultural identity after years of historic discrimination, segregation
and subjugation. It created divisions amongst black Africans and even if they had had a stronger cultural identity and
less divided opposition groups the strength of white opposition and national party power would still have rendered
their attempt at dismantling apartheid useless in the early years due to Afrikaner strength and resources.
, Para1: economic crises and borderline civil war, much unrest, violence being sued by MK, pogo, other armed
branches, they were losing control and wasting money as they were doing it
Para2: they still won in the elections suggesting that it was not seriously undermined, their security measures were
still superior despite their successes perhaps halting or stagnating.
Para3: increasing international condemnation, result of Soweto 1973 , death of Steve Biko 1977 etc… cry freedom
AAM in Britain, boycotts, strikes, fear of communism was slowly dying down, so SA was seen as less necessary as an
ally.
2022
SA
Section A - Sources 3 and 4 for investigating the significance of the Soweto uprising
Response to teaching in Afrikaans
Organised by the SSRC a section of the SASM
Influenced by the BC movement
Hector Pietersen
644R Afrikaner child, 24R African child
Not separate development
Section B – how accurate is it to say that the treason trial 1956-61 was the most significant challenge faced by the
anti-apartheid movement in the years 1948-61 OR it was principally economic recovery that strengthened apartheid
in the years 1961-68
Intro: mention grand and petty apartheid, petty often the most challenging in day-to-day life, treason trial tried to
disarm and weaken opposition groups however there was a lack of direct action in this period and even with the
presence of leader to Chanell frustrations arguably restrictive apartheid laws contributed, especially petty apartheid
could be seen as the most significant challenge faced by the AAM as it limited their ability to take action.
Para1: treason trial, freedom charter 1955 kliptown etc…
Para2: 1949 immorality act, 1950 population registration act, 1956 coloured voters disenfranchised, 1952 abolition of
passes act, 1950 suppression of communism act, 1953 Bantu education act, 1955 and 1956 censorship acts, 1956
riotous assemblies act etc… arguably this provided the greatest challenge, to try to live and fight back in these
conditions was near enough impossible, despite treason trial taking away leaders, even with leaders their current
tactics were not proving very successful so cannot have been their most significant challenge
Para3: divisions in black nationalism – PAC,ANC,ANCYL,SACP etc… Sobukwe, Mandela, Tambo, Africanism etc…
Conclusion – although treason trial ended in acquittal still demonstrated the power of the national party and
weaknesses of the AAM. Arguably the lynchpin of apartheid, the de jure apartheid acts were the most significant
challenges faced by the AAM as it made opposition as well as regular life very challenging.
Para1: economic recovery, prosperity after Sharpeville small dip
Para2: opposition to apartheid forced NP to bolster security measures, security police, restrictive acts etc…
Para3: lack of opposition to apartheid, condemnation as well as internally there was a lull.
