Colonialism usually represents a struggle between a
group of colonized resisters and a single group of
colonizers.
South African colonialism represents a struggle between two sets of colonizers:
The Dutch (strictly exclusionary)
The British (relatively accommodating)
The Dutch and British are struggling with each other, but also struggle with the resisters:
the Natives
The Dutch colonized the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 (the southernmost part of South Africa).
The Dutch colonized the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 (the southernmost part of South Africa).
The bulk of black people were located further inland and were quickly conquered.
The Dutch colonizers saw South Africa as an African “New World” and saw themselves as white pioneer settlers and proclaimed themselves “Afrikaaners”
The British seized the Cape colony in 1806.
The British seized the Cape colony in 1806.
A century of struggle
Tensions escalated when British started sending settlers in 1820
British settlers also saw the country as permanent home
Finally, in 1835 most of the Afrikaners headed northeast to re-establish communities on their own terms
Finally, in 1835 most of the Afrikaners headed northeast to re-establish communities on their own terms
They began battling with the black population
Afrikaners were well established by 1841, but still had tension with British
Dutch (Afrikaner):
Dutch (Afrikaner):
Concerned with establishing an egalitarian democracy amongst themselves
Thought they could retain control over their policies only if they could exclude non-Afrikaners (esp. blacks) from citizenship
Established states in the interior through conquest, and rejected any possibility of black inclusion – their principle was “no equality in the church or state”
Boer War: British defeated the Afrikaners in a 1899-1902 war & incorporated them into a policy that became the Union of South Africa in 1910.
Boer War: British defeated the Afrikaners in a 1899-1902 war & incorporated them into a policy that became the Union of South Africa in 1910.
Significant autonomy and representative institutions granted for whites and qualified blacks
Racial discrimination fact of life from day one!
Land Act of 1913
The leaders dressed, talked and acted like British gentlemen
The leaders dressed, talked and acted like British gentlemen
The African National Congress (ANC) was formed in 1912 by this black elite
This resistance placed stress on the conscience of the British colonizer
ANC prepared to oppose the Land Act and turned to the Crown for help
ANC prepared to oppose the Land Act and turned to the Crown for help
-Forced relocation into urban areas: part of Johannesburg was flattened; 60,000 residents forced into a new slum, Soweto
Chief objective was to deny non-whites the fruits of white labors: commerce and industry
“…the white man, therefore, not only has an undoubted stake and –and a right to- the land which he developed into a modern industrial state from denuded grassland and empty valleys and mountains. But – according to all the principles of morality – it was his, is his, and must remain his.”
“…the white man, therefore, not only has an undoubted stake and –and a right to- the land which he developed into a modern industrial state from denuded grassland and empty valleys and mountains. But – according to all the principles of morality – it was his, is his, and must remain his.”
-Hendrik Verwoerd
In 1940s, the ANC Youth League insisted that appeals to Crown were implausible
In 1940s, the ANC Youth League insisted that appeals to Crown were implausible
They offered a change to mass demonstration and civil disobedience
Born in 1918
Born in 1918
Studied at all-black Fore Hare University
Expelled for participating in political demonstrations
Finished his B.A. by correspondence, earned law degree in 1942. One of first Africans to practice law in S. A.
Joined ANC and helped form the Youth League in 1944
ANC had support but little organization
ANC had support but little organization
Earlier campaigns centered around issues important to elite
Held Defiance Campaign
Police harassment/ignored by government
ANC held on June 25& 26, 1955
ANC held on June 25& 26, 1955
Adopted the Freedom Charter, a vision for a united, non racial and democratic South Africa
The people shall govern
The people shall govern
Equal rights for all groups
Share country’s wealth
Share land
Enjoy equal human rights
Work and security
Equal education and culture
Housing, security and comfort
Peace and friendship
BBC Video on APARTHEID
The regime constantly harassed ANC
The regime constantly harassed ANC
Young ANC leaders came to doubt that nonviolence was the answer
Mass demonstration turned into armed resistance
A large crowd of South Africans assembled in front of the Sharpeville police station to protest the “pass laws.” Tensions escalated: the crowd threw rocks at police and the police retaliated with gunfire. 60 protesters were killed, 180 wounded. Some were shot in the back while trying to flee
After the Sharpeville Massacre, te ANC built a new military wing headed by Nelson Mandela
After the Sharpeville Massacre, te ANC built a new military wing headed by Nelson Mandela
They launched a sabatoge campaign
The regime used violence to ban the ANC and arrest its leaders
On the morning of June 16, 1976, thousands of students Soweto gathered at their schools to participate in a student-organized protest demonstration.
On the morning of June 16, 1976, thousands of students Soweto gathered at their schools to participate in a student-organized protest demonstration.
The cause for the march was student opposition to a decree issued by the Bantu Education Department that imposed Afrikaans as the language half the subjects in higher primary (middle school) and secondary school (high school). Since members of the ruling National Party spoke Afrikaans, black students viewed it as the "language of the oppressor." Moreover, lacking fluency in Afrikaans, African teachers and pupils experienced first-hand the negative impact of the new policy in the classroom.
Policemen stopped the students and tried to turn them back. At first, the security forces tried unsuccessfully to disperse the students with tear gas and warning shots. Then policemen fired directly into the crowd of demonstrators. Many students responded by running for shelter, while others retaliated by pelting the police with stones.
Policemen stopped the students and tried to turn them back. At first, the security forces tried unsuccessfully to disperse the students with tear gas and warning shots. Then policemen fired directly into the crowd of demonstrators. Many students responded by running for shelter, while others retaliated by pelting the police with stones.
That day, two students died from police gunfire; hundreds more sustained injuries during the subsequent chaos that engulfed Soweto. The shootings in Soweto sparked a massive uprising that soon spread to more than 100 urban and rural areas throughout South Africa.
It was supposed to have been one of Amy Biehl's last days in South Africa. In only three days was scheduled to return to the United States. An idealistic Stanford graduate, Amy was completing a 10-month course of study as a Fullbright exchange scholar at the University of Western Cape Community Law Center where she had helped to develop voter registration programs for South African blacks and women as that nation's first all-race elections approached in April, 1994. Amy was scheduled to continue her promising academic career the following week as a new graduate student at Rutger's University in New Jersey. Amy never made it back to the United States alive.
It was supposed to have been one of Amy Biehl's last days in South Africa. In only three days was scheduled to return to the United States. An idealistic Stanford graduate, Amy was completing a 10-month course of study as a Fullbright exchange scholar at the University of Western Cape Community Law Center where she had helped to develop voter registration programs for South African blacks and women as that nation's first all-race elections approached in April, 1994. Amy was scheduled to continue her promising academic career the following week as a new graduate student at Rutger's University in New Jersey. Amy never made it back to the United States alive.
On August 25, 1993, while Amy was driving three black colleagues back to Cape Town's Guguletu Township, a group of youths pelted her car with stones and forced it to stop. Dozens of young men then surrounded the car repeating the militant Pan Africanist Congress chant, "One settler [white person], one bullet!" Amy was then pulled from the car, struck in the head with a brick as she tried to flee, and then beaten and stabbed in the heart while she lay on the ground. During the attack, Amy's black friends yelled that she was a "comrade" and friend of black South Africa to no avail. Amy was carried back to the car after the attack by her friends who then drove her to the nearest police station where she died. Amy was 26 years old at the time of her murder.
In 1976, black school children protested against discriminatory education policies – police fire on the children.
In 1976, black school children protested against discriminatory education policies – police fire on the children.
Triggers a violent conflict in Soweto – more than 600 killed
Steven Biko was arrested for encouraging the protests – died in police custody on Sept. 12, 1977
Journalist Donald Woods broke story about Biko’s execution. Hollywood made a movie Cry Freedom.
600 civil society groups came together in 1983
600 civil society groups came together in 1983
Committed to non-racialism as a strategy
Resisted to the 1983 constitution that offered colored and Indian people a role in parliament but excluded Blacks
South Africa banned from Olympic games in 1960s
South Africa banned from Olympic games in 1960s
United Nations suspended South African membership in 1974
U. N. imposed arms embargo in 1977 & declared apartheid a crime against humanity
