Ohio Learning Standard #21

• The Cold War overlaps into an era of decolonization and national liberation

• Postwar global politics leads to rise of nationalist movements in Africa

Throughout its history, Southern Africa has had a great variety of

cultures

Multi-Ethnic Society*Wide variety of cultures, languages, & religions*

• Constitution recognizes 11 official languages

• 2 of these are of European: English & Afrikaans

• English is commonly used in public & business

Rainbow Nation*Unique multi-cultural character*

• 80% of South Africa is of black African ancestry divided among variety of ethnic groups (Bantu)

• Integral to its national identity (World Cup)

Conflicts arose as Europeans took an interest in the valuable ports &

resources

When Gold, Diamonds, & Copper, were found in S Africa in 1800s, Europeans came in

masses

Republic of South Africa*Located at southern tip of Africa*

Following Boer Wars

• British Parliament passed South Africa Act 1909 granting independence & creating South Africa

• Also passed Natives' Land Act restricting the ownership of land by blacks to only 7% of nation

Similar to Reservations

* Deprived of citizenship

* Assigned a “homeland”

* Supposed autonomous- called Bantustans

National Party in control*Combination of British & Dutch interests*

• Strengthened racial segregation already in place

• Classified all peoples into race groupings and developed rights & limitations (where could live, work, travel, etc…) for each grouping

• White minority (10%) maintains control of the much larger black majority (85%)

To maintain control & get Africans to work in mines & on farms –

whites had townships for Blacks to live = Apartheid

Apartheid- legally institutionalized Segregation

• Blatant racial policies that oppressed civil rights

• White (Afrikaners) enjoyed highest standard of living - compared to most Western nations … even in Britain or the USA

• Black majority remain disadvantaged including: income, education, housing, & life expectancy

Townships• Apartheid = Afrikaans word meaning

apartness

• Residential areas segregated on basis of race

- 3.5 mil Black Africans were removed from homes & forced into segregation

Similar to Segregation in USA

* Education, medical care, markets, restaurants, and all public services

- divided by Race * Services for Blacks were

- far inferior to whites

1960s• Apartheid – like Segregation in USA became

increasingly controversial- Some Western nations began to

boycott doing business with South Africa

• However … South Africa’s government passes

Suppression of Communism Act - banning any party linked to

Communism

Resistance Movements

• African National Congress (ANC) formed to resist

- leaders proposed that white authority could only be overthrown thru mass, public campaigns

*Nelson Mandela & Bishop Desmond Tutu

• Program of Action = planned civil disobedience

- series of popular protests, strikes, & uprisings

- Sharpeville …

Banning• Anyone who opposed government policy

risked being labelled as Communist (threat to Society)

• Met with banning opposition & imprisoning of anti-apartheid leaders

Militarization• Protests/Strikes spread & became more

effective

• State organizations (Police & National Guard) respond with repression (smack down) & violence

Black Consciousness

• Anti-Apartheid activist movement emerging in South Africa after jailings/bannings of ANC and Pan Africanist Congress leadership (Sharpeville)

• Movement for political consciousness (awareness)

- Rooted in Christianity (Anglican Church)

- lead of Bishops Robert Taylor & Desmond Tutu

Leadership of Steven Biko

• Empowerment & Mobilization- Young people & Urban

• Non-violent Civil Disobedience- mass demonstrations- Soweto Student

• Slogan: “Black is Beautiful”

Fall of 1989*same year as Fall of Berlin Wall*

• National Party (Apartheid) leader Botha suffers stroke & has to step down as President

- Replaced by more conservative F.W. de Klerk

• Debate legalizing opposition political parties – including ANC and possibility of freeing prisoners including Mandela

Spring, 1994

• ANC candidate Mandela wins over-whelming (62%) victory in national elections = new President despite SA Press campaigning against

• Enacts Reconstruction & Development Program

- build million houses in five years- introduce universal free education- extend access to water &

electricity

Mandela’s Presidency

• Works to establish a multicultural democracy

- Constitution NOT favoring Majority Rule

• Reconciliation as primary job - “Rainbow Nation”

- Truth & Reconciliation Commission

• Reassure South Africa's white population they’re protected (economy) & represented (government)

Rainbow Nation• Broad coalitions in Gov – including former

National Party officials as Cabinet Members

• Land Restitution & Skills Development Acts

• Encouraged black South Africans to join & support national rugby team (Springboks)

• South Africa hosted 1995 Rugby World Cup