CIVIL RESISTANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA – 1970’S
NATURE OF APARTHEID IN 1970’S
Little protest in RSA during 1960’s – state oppression
After Sharpeville in 1960 government banned, PAC, increased state control over media,
had the power to detain people for indefinite periods, placed critics under house arrest /
restriction orders, became increasingly militarised – huge $ spent on armaments, all young
white men conscripted to do military service
State tried to confine Africans to the homelands (separate development)
1970 all Africans had to become a citizen of one of the homelands instead of RSA, ruled
by a chief, form of independence – governments attempt to counteract the demand for
political rights
TURNING POINT IN THE EARLY 1970’S
Tide began to turn against the government 1973 world oil crisis caused a decline in the
economy, lack of skilled labour (direct result of the Bantu Education Act), the independence
of Mozambique and Angola from Portuguese rule gave hope to South Africans that they
could bring change, the increasing number of youth revolts and protests around the world,
influence of nationalist leaders in African countries (e.g. Nyerere) and the growing
international criticism of RSA
BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS
Driving force – SASO (South African Students’ Organisation), started in 1968 by Steve Biko
Late 1960’s and early 1970’s – a new generation of black students began to organise
resistance in RSA
Many of them were students of the black universities established under the Bantu Education
Act
Adopted a set of ideas - BC – attitude of mind, rather than a political movement
“Black” instead of “non-white” – direct challenge to the state – not reverse racism, rather a
means of creating a sense of solidarity and pride in black South Africans
Movement made up of all people who were oppressed under apartheid – Indians, coloureds
– promoted a unified identity
AIMS:
1) To raise the self-respect & confidence of black people to liberate themselves
2) To promote pride in black identity, culture and history
3) To stop working with white liberals in multi-racial organisations but to rather
encourage them to educate other white people to change their attitudes
4) To promote unity amongst black people by mobilising (prepare & organise) them to
fight against apartheid
Aims of BC – echoed views of Africanists and PAC – the idea that RSA belonged to black
people alone
Useful quote:
“SASO is working for the liberation of the black man, first from psychological oppression by
themselves through inferiority complexes and secondly from physical oppression occurring
out of living in a white racist society”
NATURE OF APARTHEID IN 1970’S
Little protest in RSA during 1960’s – state oppression
After Sharpeville in 1960 government banned, PAC, increased state control over media,
had the power to detain people for indefinite periods, placed critics under house arrest /
restriction orders, became increasingly militarised – huge $ spent on armaments, all young
white men conscripted to do military service
State tried to confine Africans to the homelands (separate development)
1970 all Africans had to become a citizen of one of the homelands instead of RSA, ruled
by a chief, form of independence – governments attempt to counteract the demand for
political rights
TURNING POINT IN THE EARLY 1970’S
Tide began to turn against the government 1973 world oil crisis caused a decline in the
economy, lack of skilled labour (direct result of the Bantu Education Act), the independence
of Mozambique and Angola from Portuguese rule gave hope to South Africans that they
could bring change, the increasing number of youth revolts and protests around the world,
influence of nationalist leaders in African countries (e.g. Nyerere) and the growing
international criticism of RSA
BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS
Driving force – SASO (South African Students’ Organisation), started in 1968 by Steve Biko
Late 1960’s and early 1970’s – a new generation of black students began to organise
resistance in RSA
Many of them were students of the black universities established under the Bantu Education
Act
Adopted a set of ideas - BC – attitude of mind, rather than a political movement
“Black” instead of “non-white” – direct challenge to the state – not reverse racism, rather a
means of creating a sense of solidarity and pride in black South Africans
Movement made up of all people who were oppressed under apartheid – Indians, coloureds
– promoted a unified identity
AIMS:
1) To raise the self-respect & confidence of black people to liberate themselves
2) To promote pride in black identity, culture and history
3) To stop working with white liberals in multi-racial organisations but to rather
encourage them to educate other white people to change their attitudes
4) To promote unity amongst black people by mobilising (prepare & organise) them to
fight against apartheid
Aims of BC – echoed views of Africanists and PAC – the idea that RSA belonged to black
people alone
Useful quote:
“SASO is working for the liberation of the black man, first from psychological oppression by
themselves through inferiority complexes and secondly from physical oppression occurring
out of living in a white racist society”
