“Although decolonization in most of Africa and Asia ultimately occurred

peacefully, there were notable exceptions. In Palestine, Algeria and South Africa, the presence of European immigrant groups impeded negotiations and created violent

conflicts that aborted any peaceful transfer of power - or left the process

incomplete…”

Aim: In what ways was South Africa a “special case” of

decolonization?

From Colonialism to Apartheid

• British Imperialism in South Africa• Boer War w/ Afrikaners – British economic

and political control• Independence (1934) – Gradual shift to

Afrikaner political control; British economic control (imperialism)

• 1948: Apartheid laws – modeled after “Jim Crow” laws in American South

Key rules of Apartheid

• Bantustans – 14% of the land set aside for 70% of the population – effectively forced black people to work in white-owned mines and industry

• Every black person assigned to a tribal homeland – can be removed from other areas at any time

• Every black person must carry a pass to leave homeland• Blacks not allowed to vote• All schools segregated• No inter-racial marriage

What was the point?

• Racism legalized

• Economic subservience of black to white

• Effectively made black people second class citizens forever

African National Congress• Originally modeled after Indian National

Congress• Differences:

– White South Africans much more numerous than the British; and they are not going anywhere

– Through first 50 years, things get worse, not better for Black Africans

– Many doubt non-violence as a practical means of struggle

Sharpeville Massacre (1960)

• Protest against pass laws, recently extended to women

• Led to banning of ANC• ANC then decides to engage in armed

struggle• Mandela became leader of ANC’s armed

wing

Imprisonment of Mandela

• Arrested in 1961, on a tip by the CIA to South African government

• Trial in 1964

• Imprisoned until 1990

• While in jail, becomes the symbol of the ANC and repression of white government

Armed Struggle Period: it was bloody

• ANC guerrilla warfare in countryside• Illegal “non-violent” activity such as strikes,

protests• Soweto Uprising – started as a protest against a

decree that all schooling would be done in Afrikaner – the language of the oppressor

• State terror against ANC supporters – killings, torture, jailing

• ANC terror against both police and military; also black collaborators

Sanctions add to pressure on South African government

• “Disinvestment” – US colleges, pension funds refused to invest in companies that did business in South Africa

• Anti-Apartheid Act (1986) – banned all new American investment and bank loans

• Double taxation of all profits made by US companies in South Africa (1987)

End of Apartheid

• Internal disruption, sanctions, flight of investment capital caused economic chaos

• De Klerk opens negotiations with Mandela, frees him, schedules elections (1989-94)

• A deal is struck: Black Africans gain political power; White Africans, capitalists keep economic power

Truth and Reconciliation Commission:

As leader of South Africa, what would you do? Do you seek

justice or reconciliation?

The 'Freedom Charter'’… calls for redistribution, but not nationalization, of land; it provides for nationalization of mines, banks,

and monopoly industry, because big monopolies are owned by one race only, and

without such nationalization racial domination would be perpetuated despite the spread of

political power. (1964)

Was it a correct choice for the ANC to renounce the Freedom Charter as the “price” to end

apartheid and gain political power?

Blacks Whites

Living in Poverty

56% 4%

No Schooling 22% 1.4%

High School and above

22% 70%

Phone in house 31% 95%

Computer 1.8% 46%

Median Income/capita

$1803 $9769