Colonialism In South Africa

1143 Words5 Pages
By the 1960s, the affliction of Apartheid and repression of internal opposition in South Africa had still not ceased to desist, despite growing world criticism of South Africa's racially discriminatory policies. The basic ideological premise of apartheid was that blacks were not really full citizens of South Africa and, therefore, were not entitled to any official representation. Most Africans had almost no say in the conduct of the state affairs in their countries and were exploited, manipulated or simply ignored as if they did not exist. Thousands of Africans, Asians and other groups were removed from white areas into the land set aside for other racial groups. Under apartheid, over 80% of the land was held by 13% of the population. Unions…show more content…
These movements were dedicated to the absolute eradication of colonialism and racial discrimination. South Africa found itself surrounded by countries which had democratic governments that were hostile to its policies and ready to give refuge to the exiled political associations of South Africa. By 1976, there was both internal and external opposition to apartheid - the protests led to demonstrations, marches, and boycotts throughout South Africa. Violent clashes with police left many people dead, several thousand arrested, and thousands more seeking refuge outside South Africa. In the early 1980s, in order to combat the rising unrest of the majority forming black population and to prevent the economy from crashing, the National Party (which formed the apartheid enforcing government at the time) under the leadership of Prime Minister P. W. Botha implemented a new constitutional amendment, one that embraced the concept of multiracial government but, at the same time, did not let go of the concept of racial separation. The new constitution established three racially segregated houses of parliament, for whites, Asians, and coloureds, but still excluded blacks from full citizenship. Botha and his allies hoped that such a change would boost NP support among coloureds and Asians, and thus give the party enough numerical…show more content…
Introduction of Democracy From the end of 1991 onward, government negotiators met regularly with representatives from other political organizations to discuss ways in which some form of democracy could be introduced and apartheid abolished. This forum was called the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa). The negotiations were not smooth-sailing or easy in an way, because each participating group brought different past struggles and different demands to the negotiating table. Yet there was more common ground than difference in Codesa. De Klerk and Mandela and their respective supporters were united in the belief that a democratic government that was based on the principles of legal equality and political freedom was their only hope for an economic recovery and was vital for the attainment of peace and

More about Colonialism In South Africa

Open Document