1
Theme Five: The Coming of Democracy in South Africa
Background:
• Between 1989 and 1994 political structure of SA would change dramatically.
• In 1989, NP was in power, ANC had been banned since 1960 with its leaders in prison or
in exile, and many predicted dangerous uprising or civil war.
• However, remarkable four years followed which involved lengthy negotiations,
compromise and a settlement reached.
• In 1994, ANC won majority in first democratic elections and NP’s 46 year rule came to an
end; and country adopted one of most liberal and highly regarded constitutions in
world.
• By 1989, NP was experiencing increased pressure. Mass resistance within country as well
as international isolation and sanctions.
• PW Botha was opposed to change and forced to step down as leader of the party.
• After suffering two strokes, Botha replaced by FW de Klerk, who realized urgent reforms
needed
Secret Negotiations with the ANC in exile
• During 1980s, became clear to white business leaders that ANC couldn’t continue to be
ignored
• In 1985, group of prominent businessmen, led by Gavin Relly of Anglo American
Corporation, flew to Lusaka in Zambia to meet Oliver Tambo and other ANC leaders.
• In 1987, group of liberal Afrikaners led by Van Zyl Slabbert met with ANC leaders in
Dakar, Senegal.
Negotiations with Mandela
• Even under PW there were signs that government realized importance of Nelson
Mandela who had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for treason.
• In 1982, Mandela had been moved from Robben Island to a prison in Cape Town.
• From 1985 members of the NP Government held secret talks with Mandela.
• Mandela continued to reject any offers of a conditional release.
• In 1988 he was moved to a house in the grounds of the Victor Verster prison at Paarl.
• In 1989 meetings were held between Mandela and PW Botha; and also between
Mandela and de Klerk; but still Mandela remained in jail.
1990 – 1991: The Start of Negotiations
• In his opening address to parliament on 2 February 1990, de Klerk made a dramatic
move
He announced:
o Unbanning of ANC, PAC and SACP
o Release of Mandela
, 2
o Easing of restrictions
o Banning orders and censorship
o Suspension of death penalty
o Willingness to work with all political groups to create new and democratic constitution
• TEN days after de Klerk’s announcement, Mandela was released after 27 years in prison
• Thousands of supporters, reporters and media gathered to witness release of world’s
most famous prisoner
• Mandela met with leaders of the ANC in Zambia and made public statement indicating
willingness of ANC to negotiate with National Party government to end Apartheid.
• Mandela visited 13 countries in Africa, Europe and America, and to dismay of NP
government, he urged countries to continue sanctions against SA until progress to
democracy was assured
• Between February and March of 1990 there were fifty other prisoners who were
released from Robben Island; those who had been imprisoned because they were
members of ANC or PAC.
• The government refused to release other prisoners who they claimed had carried out
crimes.
• This caused tension and the remaining Robben Island prisoners went on a hunger strike
• ANC refused to enter into negotiations with the NP government until they had been
released
• By 1991 there were 933 prisoners who had been released
Debates around Negotiations
• Although ANC and NP had both announced commitments to change, both faced serious
obstacles before negotiations and constitutional changes could take place.
• ANC had been banned since 1960 and had to transform from liberation party into
political party, and build up organizational structure within the country.
There were differences in opinion about ideology and tactics.
• Chris Hani, of SACP, believed that armed struggle could be called off during negotiations
• Clashes of ideology between those who had been in exile and were now returning to
country, and those who had remained in country
• Those who had remained resented some of returning exiles who seemed to be taking
over
• But most difficult were millions of people living in townships who had participated in
resistance of 1980s and were now impatient for change.
• Many of them were loyal to the idea of an armed struggle and needed to be persuaded
that negotiations would be valuable.
• NP was facing loss of support and some people were angered by de Klerk’s concessions
and had left NP to join Conservative Party or AWB.
• Many members of army and police were suspected of being sympathetic to right wing
and being opposed to negotiations with ANC.
Theme Five: The Coming of Democracy in South Africa
Background:
• Between 1989 and 1994 political structure of SA would change dramatically.
• In 1989, NP was in power, ANC had been banned since 1960 with its leaders in prison or
in exile, and many predicted dangerous uprising or civil war.
• However, remarkable four years followed which involved lengthy negotiations,
compromise and a settlement reached.
• In 1994, ANC won majority in first democratic elections and NP’s 46 year rule came to an
end; and country adopted one of most liberal and highly regarded constitutions in
world.
• By 1989, NP was experiencing increased pressure. Mass resistance within country as well
as international isolation and sanctions.
• PW Botha was opposed to change and forced to step down as leader of the party.
• After suffering two strokes, Botha replaced by FW de Klerk, who realized urgent reforms
needed
Secret Negotiations with the ANC in exile
• During 1980s, became clear to white business leaders that ANC couldn’t continue to be
ignored
• In 1985, group of prominent businessmen, led by Gavin Relly of Anglo American
Corporation, flew to Lusaka in Zambia to meet Oliver Tambo and other ANC leaders.
• In 1987, group of liberal Afrikaners led by Van Zyl Slabbert met with ANC leaders in
Dakar, Senegal.
Negotiations with Mandela
• Even under PW there were signs that government realized importance of Nelson
Mandela who had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for treason.
• In 1982, Mandela had been moved from Robben Island to a prison in Cape Town.
• From 1985 members of the NP Government held secret talks with Mandela.
• Mandela continued to reject any offers of a conditional release.
• In 1988 he was moved to a house in the grounds of the Victor Verster prison at Paarl.
• In 1989 meetings were held between Mandela and PW Botha; and also between
Mandela and de Klerk; but still Mandela remained in jail.
1990 – 1991: The Start of Negotiations
• In his opening address to parliament on 2 February 1990, de Klerk made a dramatic
move
He announced:
o Unbanning of ANC, PAC and SACP
o Release of Mandela
, 2
o Easing of restrictions
o Banning orders and censorship
o Suspension of death penalty
o Willingness to work with all political groups to create new and democratic constitution
• TEN days after de Klerk’s announcement, Mandela was released after 27 years in prison
• Thousands of supporters, reporters and media gathered to witness release of world’s
most famous prisoner
• Mandela met with leaders of the ANC in Zambia and made public statement indicating
willingness of ANC to negotiate with National Party government to end Apartheid.
• Mandela visited 13 countries in Africa, Europe and America, and to dismay of NP
government, he urged countries to continue sanctions against SA until progress to
democracy was assured
• Between February and March of 1990 there were fifty other prisoners who were
released from Robben Island; those who had been imprisoned because they were
members of ANC or PAC.
• The government refused to release other prisoners who they claimed had carried out
crimes.
• This caused tension and the remaining Robben Island prisoners went on a hunger strike
• ANC refused to enter into negotiations with the NP government until they had been
released
• By 1991 there were 933 prisoners who had been released
Debates around Negotiations
• Although ANC and NP had both announced commitments to change, both faced serious
obstacles before negotiations and constitutional changes could take place.
• ANC had been banned since 1960 and had to transform from liberation party into
political party, and build up organizational structure within the country.
There were differences in opinion about ideology and tactics.
• Chris Hani, of SACP, believed that armed struggle could be called off during negotiations
• Clashes of ideology between those who had been in exile and were now returning to
country, and those who had remained in country
• Those who had remained resented some of returning exiles who seemed to be taking
over
• But most difficult were millions of people living in townships who had participated in
resistance of 1980s and were now impatient for change.
• Many of them were loyal to the idea of an armed struggle and needed to be persuaded
that negotiations would be valuable.
• NP was facing loss of support and some people were angered by de Klerk’s concessions
and had left NP to join Conservative Party or AWB.
• Many members of army and police were suspected of being sympathetic to right wing
and being opposed to negotiations with ANC.
