Apartheid South Africa: Protests & action

Apartheid South Africa: Protests & action

Forms of Resistance Against Apartheid

  • Mass Action: Tactics employed included strikes, stay-aways (boycotts of work), and civil disobedience campaigns, which aimed at breaking down the apartheid structure.
  • Armed Resistance: Spearheaded by Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress, this involved sabotage and guerrilla warfare tactics against the apartheid regime.
  • Non-violent Resistance: This included peaceful protests, strikes, and negotiations, largely organised by trade unions and political leaders such as Nelson Mandela.

Key Players in the Resistance

  • African National Congress (ANC): The main national opposition to apartheid, its members faced severe repression, including imprisonment, torture, and banning orders.
  • Nelson Mandela: A prominent leader of the ANC who, despite being incarcerated for 27 years, advocated for an end to apartheid and eventually served as South Africa’s first black President.
  • Steve Biko: Prominent leader in the Black Consciousness Movement which sought to foster pride, self-reliance and unity among black South Africans.

Significant Resistance Events

  • Defiance Campaign (1952): Organized by the ANC and South African Indian Congress, this was a non-violent protest against six unjust apartheid laws.
  • Soweto Uprising (1976): Initiated by students protesting the enforcement of Afrikaans language in schools, this became a large-scale protest leading to a brutal crackdown by the South African police.
  • Release of Nelson Mandela (1990): Mandela’s release was symbolic of the ongoing systemic changes and the start of dismantling apartheid.

International Influence & Actions

  • Sanctions: In response to the apartheid regime, many countries imposed economic sanctions and arms embargoes against South Africa, pressuring the government to reconsider its policies.
  • Divestment: During the 1980s, many international companies started to withdraw investments from South Africa due to pressure from anti-apartheid campaigns.
  • Sporting Boycotts: Sporting bodies around the world boycotted South Africa, excluding them from many international competitions such as the Olympics.