THE COMING OF DEMOCRACY IN SA AND
COMING TO TERMS WITH THE PAST
THE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT AND GOVERNMENT OF UNITY
● SA - democracy in 1994 - obstacles + difficulties but - forward thinking of SA politicians +
business leaders - strategy of conciliation - 1986 to 1993 - paved way - negotiated
settlement + a democratic SA.
● This - spurred on - unrest in SA - grabbed international headlines + political leaders
across the world - condemned + denounced Apartheid.
○ International condemnation - severe repercussions - SA - difficult to withstand.
○ International investors - withdrew - capital + foreign banks - stopping - loans.
■ (-) impact - SA economy - currency: collapsing, $ of gold: falling + inflation:
skyrocketed.
● Due - developments - NP politicians + businessmen - apartheid - end - eco prosperity +
political stability - regained.
○ 1989 - PW Botha - stroke - FW De Klerk - replaced him.
○ Klerk - drastic changes - paved the way - democratic SA - 1994.
● Democracy - attained - Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) - help heal SA - past.
SECRET NEGOTIATIONS WITH ANC-IN-EXILE & WITH MANDELA
Why did politicians have secret talks with the ANC & Mandela?
● 1980s - NP’s grip on power - challenged:
○ More protest action + unrest throughout SA - inaction to solve - socio-eco +
political crisis - country.
○ (-) impact - sanctions + disinvestment - eco.
○ International pressure - anti-apartheid movements - release NM + other political
prisoners & unban political orgs.
● SA’s image locally + internationally - (-) affected - political instability.
○ Prompted - secret negotiations - black + white SA’s & ANC members.
● ANC-in-exile - immense international support - UNO + OAU.
○ ANC headquarters - Lusaka - led by - OR Tambo, Thabo Mbeki & Joe Slovo.
SANJANA VINOD
, ● Botha’s failure - transform SA + popularity of ANC - int businessmen - Timothy Bevan -
talking with ANC.
○ One of SA’s most respected businessmen - Gavin Relly - put together - powerful
delegation of local businessmen + first meeting - ANC in lusaka.
○ President of ANC - Tambo + led ANC delegation.
○ Later - other white businessmen, students + professionals - visited ANC-in-exile.
● Frederick van Zyl Slabbert - outspoken leader - Progressive FEDERAL Party (PFP) -
resigned from parliament - 1987 + formed Institute for a Democratic Alt in SA (IDASA) -
with colleague Alex Boraine.
● 1987 - IDASA led a delegation of 61 businessmen, academics + profs - Senegal.
○ Later - met a 17 person delegation from the ANC led - Thabo Mbeki.
■ Meeting focused on - strategies to bring a major + fund shift in
management of SA.
■ Issues - structures in gov, eco + building of national unity
○ Talks - significant TP in SA history.
● Botha criticised the meeting + referred - Slabbert + his entourage - political terrorists +
felt - undermined - afrikaner nation + damage - image of SA.
● Despite efforts - liberal white SAs - bring change - Botha continued - implement policies
of TO + TS.
How did Apartheid regime respind to growing demands?
● While Apartheid state - trying to negotiate - ANC - also released ANC stalwarts - Denis
Goldberg + Govan Mbeki - Robben Island.
○ Ironically- continued to intensify attack on ANC underground cells - ANC HQ in
Lusaka - bombed.
○ 1000s - student activists - left the country - cadres - later returned - launch
counter-attacks against apartheid state.
○ Apartheid gov’s intelligence network intercepted - MK soldiers + ambushed them.
Intensification of the armed struggle:
● Response - atrocities - ANC - intensify armed struggle within SA.
○ Tambo - pressured to work - negotiated settlement + approved a top secret plan -
‘Op Vula’ - led by MM.
■ High ranking ANC members - undercover in SA.
● Task - organise underground structures + mobilise members - within org.
○ ANC - published Const guidelines - detailed plans - how to govern - democratic SA.
● 1985 - Tambo - issued a call - Apartheid SA - ungovernable + unworkable.
○ Botha told parliament - ready to release M - if he renounced violence - strategy.
● M - statement - daughter read out @ stadium in Soweto - 1985.
SANJANA VINOD
COMING TO TERMS WITH THE PAST
THE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT AND GOVERNMENT OF UNITY
● SA - democracy in 1994 - obstacles + difficulties but - forward thinking of SA politicians +
business leaders - strategy of conciliation - 1986 to 1993 - paved way - negotiated
settlement + a democratic SA.
● This - spurred on - unrest in SA - grabbed international headlines + political leaders
across the world - condemned + denounced Apartheid.
○ International condemnation - severe repercussions - SA - difficult to withstand.
○ International investors - withdrew - capital + foreign banks - stopping - loans.
■ (-) impact - SA economy - currency: collapsing, $ of gold: falling + inflation:
skyrocketed.
● Due - developments - NP politicians + businessmen - apartheid - end - eco prosperity +
political stability - regained.
○ 1989 - PW Botha - stroke - FW De Klerk - replaced him.
○ Klerk - drastic changes - paved the way - democratic SA - 1994.
● Democracy - attained - Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) - help heal SA - past.
SECRET NEGOTIATIONS WITH ANC-IN-EXILE & WITH MANDELA
Why did politicians have secret talks with the ANC & Mandela?
● 1980s - NP’s grip on power - challenged:
○ More protest action + unrest throughout SA - inaction to solve - socio-eco +
political crisis - country.
○ (-) impact - sanctions + disinvestment - eco.
○ International pressure - anti-apartheid movements - release NM + other political
prisoners & unban political orgs.
● SA’s image locally + internationally - (-) affected - political instability.
○ Prompted - secret negotiations - black + white SA’s & ANC members.
● ANC-in-exile - immense international support - UNO + OAU.
○ ANC headquarters - Lusaka - led by - OR Tambo, Thabo Mbeki & Joe Slovo.
SANJANA VINOD
, ● Botha’s failure - transform SA + popularity of ANC - int businessmen - Timothy Bevan -
talking with ANC.
○ One of SA’s most respected businessmen - Gavin Relly - put together - powerful
delegation of local businessmen + first meeting - ANC in lusaka.
○ President of ANC - Tambo + led ANC delegation.
○ Later - other white businessmen, students + professionals - visited ANC-in-exile.
● Frederick van Zyl Slabbert - outspoken leader - Progressive FEDERAL Party (PFP) -
resigned from parliament - 1987 + formed Institute for a Democratic Alt in SA (IDASA) -
with colleague Alex Boraine.
● 1987 - IDASA led a delegation of 61 businessmen, academics + profs - Senegal.
○ Later - met a 17 person delegation from the ANC led - Thabo Mbeki.
■ Meeting focused on - strategies to bring a major + fund shift in
management of SA.
■ Issues - structures in gov, eco + building of national unity
○ Talks - significant TP in SA history.
● Botha criticised the meeting + referred - Slabbert + his entourage - political terrorists +
felt - undermined - afrikaner nation + damage - image of SA.
● Despite efforts - liberal white SAs - bring change - Botha continued - implement policies
of TO + TS.
How did Apartheid regime respind to growing demands?
● While Apartheid state - trying to negotiate - ANC - also released ANC stalwarts - Denis
Goldberg + Govan Mbeki - Robben Island.
○ Ironically- continued to intensify attack on ANC underground cells - ANC HQ in
Lusaka - bombed.
○ 1000s - student activists - left the country - cadres - later returned - launch
counter-attacks against apartheid state.
○ Apartheid gov’s intelligence network intercepted - MK soldiers + ambushed them.
Intensification of the armed struggle:
● Response - atrocities - ANC - intensify armed struggle within SA.
○ Tambo - pressured to work - negotiated settlement + approved a top secret plan -
‘Op Vula’ - led by MM.
■ High ranking ANC members - undercover in SA.
● Task - organise underground structures + mobilise members - within org.
○ ANC - published Const guidelines - detailed plans - how to govern - democratic SA.
● 1985 - Tambo - issued a call - Apartheid SA - ungovernable + unworkable.
○ Botha told parliament - ready to release M - if he renounced violence - strategy.
● M - statement - daughter read out @ stadium in Soweto - 1985.
SANJANA VINOD
