Auerello Matthaeus Pillay History 12 – Mrs Harvey
SA Road to Democracy Timeline
Date Event(s)
1985 ANC (OR Tambo) call to make country ungovernable ->
intensified resistance by MDM from 1985.
Upon returning from Europe, PW Botha told parliament he
would release Mandela if he renounced violence as a strategy.
Exploratory talks between Coetsee + Mandela
10 February 1985 Mandela’s statement read out by his daughter, Zindzi, at
Jabulani stadium in Soweto
September 1985 Timothy Bevan, international businessman, and Gavin Relly,
Chairman of Anglo American put together delegation of local
businessmen and held 1st meeting w/ ANC in Lusaka (Zambia)
-> “fruitful”
1986 SA’s economy was growing at 1% but it’s population was
growing at 2,3% -> directly resulted in deepening of poverty ->
increased + intensified political instability.
US passed Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act.
1986 – 1993 Strategy of conciliation paved way for negotiated settlement
and realisation of democratic SA.
1987 IDASA met with 17 person ANC delegate -> focussed on
strategies to bring about fundamental shift in SA -> issues
pertaining to gov. structures, economy + building of national
unity -> significant turning point.
SADF + UNITA launched major attack in SE Angola (Battle for
Cuito Cuanavale + independence of Namibia).
Election results revealed NP losing support: NP (52%), PFP
(14%), CP (26%).
Operation Vula.
May 1988 Due to strong resistance by Cubans + Angolans, SA forced to
begin talks with them.
November 1988 Mandela taken to hospital + diagnosed with TB.
PW Botha announced Mandela wouldn’t return to jail -> moved
1
, Auerello Matthaeus Pillay History 12 – Mrs Harvey
to more comfortable prison house on grounds of Victor Verster
(Franschoek).
1989 PW Botha suffered stroke (18 Jan) -> Chris Heunis stood in ->
Botha forced to resign (10 Aug) -> replaced by FW de Klerk.
Harare Declaration.
5 July 1989 Secret meeting between Mandela & PW Botha
September 1989 “all white” general election -> NP retained power, but
conceded significant number of seats to CP (then official
opposition)
20 September FW de Klerk inaugurated as State President.
1989
November 1989 Separate Amenities Act repealed (de Klerk).
1989 – 1991 Unbanning of political organisations due to change in
leadership (to de Klerk).
1990 – 1994 Characterised by intense negotiations, sustained violence,
compromise +, finally, a settlement among various political
role-players was reached.
1990 Namibia became independent.
Mandela was 72.
1990 – 1993 Reign of terror on commuter trains: ongoing attacks on
commuter trains on Rand by marked gunmen -> estimated 573
deaths -> rumours that these were 3rd force operatives + NP
was trying to destabilise the country.
NP allowed the carrying of Zulu ‘traditional weapons’ incl.
knobkerries + spears.
Rent, school + consumer boycotts renewed by ANC
supporters -> aimed to pressurise NP into reaching an
agreement faster.
2 February 1990 FW De Klerk’s Quantum Speech: watershed moment for SA.
Opening of parliament speech, unbanned ANC, SACP + PAC,
released more political prisoners, Mandela to be released
unconditionally, ended censorship
2
SA Road to Democracy Timeline
Date Event(s)
1985 ANC (OR Tambo) call to make country ungovernable ->
intensified resistance by MDM from 1985.
Upon returning from Europe, PW Botha told parliament he
would release Mandela if he renounced violence as a strategy.
Exploratory talks between Coetsee + Mandela
10 February 1985 Mandela’s statement read out by his daughter, Zindzi, at
Jabulani stadium in Soweto
September 1985 Timothy Bevan, international businessman, and Gavin Relly,
Chairman of Anglo American put together delegation of local
businessmen and held 1st meeting w/ ANC in Lusaka (Zambia)
-> “fruitful”
1986 SA’s economy was growing at 1% but it’s population was
growing at 2,3% -> directly resulted in deepening of poverty ->
increased + intensified political instability.
US passed Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act.
1986 – 1993 Strategy of conciliation paved way for negotiated settlement
and realisation of democratic SA.
1987 IDASA met with 17 person ANC delegate -> focussed on
strategies to bring about fundamental shift in SA -> issues
pertaining to gov. structures, economy + building of national
unity -> significant turning point.
SADF + UNITA launched major attack in SE Angola (Battle for
Cuito Cuanavale + independence of Namibia).
Election results revealed NP losing support: NP (52%), PFP
(14%), CP (26%).
Operation Vula.
May 1988 Due to strong resistance by Cubans + Angolans, SA forced to
begin talks with them.
November 1988 Mandela taken to hospital + diagnosed with TB.
PW Botha announced Mandela wouldn’t return to jail -> moved
1
, Auerello Matthaeus Pillay History 12 – Mrs Harvey
to more comfortable prison house on grounds of Victor Verster
(Franschoek).
1989 PW Botha suffered stroke (18 Jan) -> Chris Heunis stood in ->
Botha forced to resign (10 Aug) -> replaced by FW de Klerk.
Harare Declaration.
5 July 1989 Secret meeting between Mandela & PW Botha
September 1989 “all white” general election -> NP retained power, but
conceded significant number of seats to CP (then official
opposition)
20 September FW de Klerk inaugurated as State President.
1989
November 1989 Separate Amenities Act repealed (de Klerk).
1989 – 1991 Unbanning of political organisations due to change in
leadership (to de Klerk).
1990 – 1994 Characterised by intense negotiations, sustained violence,
compromise +, finally, a settlement among various political
role-players was reached.
1990 Namibia became independent.
Mandela was 72.
1990 – 1993 Reign of terror on commuter trains: ongoing attacks on
commuter trains on Rand by marked gunmen -> estimated 573
deaths -> rumours that these were 3rd force operatives + NP
was trying to destabilise the country.
NP allowed the carrying of Zulu ‘traditional weapons’ incl.
knobkerries + spears.
Rent, school + consumer boycotts renewed by ANC
supporters -> aimed to pressurise NP into reaching an
agreement faster.
2 February 1990 FW De Klerk’s Quantum Speech: watershed moment for SA.
Opening of parliament speech, unbanned ANC, SACP + PAC,
released more political prisoners, Mandela to be released
unconditionally, ended censorship
2
