Zoe Pearson
The road to democracy in South Africa (1990-1994)
1. Background
Why were both the NP +ANC prepared to negotiate by 1990?
1. Increasing external pressure in form of boycotts, sanctions + disinvestment.
2. Mounting pressure from business -suffering as a result of economic isolation.
3. NP gov under incr internal pressure – policy of Repression +Reform fails
4. Increasing attacks +protests – country ungovernable
5. Mass civil society protests in 1980s
Formation of UDF, civics, trade unions, SACC, MDM, ECC+black Sash
6. End of Cold War
1.1 Secret Negotiations with the ANC
From mid 1980s certain groups were meeting with ANC leadership try negotiate way forward.
[Anglo American with ALbert Luthuli, prominent Afrikaners, leader of PFP with Thabo Mbeki]
Meeting btw gov+ANC
-> first: 1985 when Minister of Justice, Kobie Coetsee met with Mandela.
-> easy access to talks->Mandela moved Robben Island-Pollsmoor Prison-Victor Verster P
-> July 5th 1989 PW Botha meets with Mandela 1st time
-> 1989: NP elected the more ‘liberal’ F.W. de Klerk as leader +bcm pres
2. 1990-1991
2.1 release of political prisoners+unbanning of orgs
On 2nd February de Klerk announces a life changing agenda
1. unbanning of the ANC, PAC and SACP
2. release of any political prisoners who were arrested as banned members of orgs
3. unconditional release of Nelson Mandela
4. removal of the censorship of the media
5. removal of emergency regulations on organisations such as the UDF and COSATU
6. limiting of the emergency regulations to 6 months with prisoners allowed legal representation
as well as medical treatment
Reaction to change
-generally met with euphoria.
-some white people not happy. Particularly right wing
[-CP + AWB reacted with fear + anger -many NP supporters turned extremist groups]
Obstacles to negotiations
1. ANC had been a resistance group, now it had to become a negotiating party
2. ANC members were impatient as banned 30 years, people wanted change - now
3. ANC had to iron out its differences – militant vs moderates within the party
•NP lost support to the CP – many white political leaders did not want to work with the ANC
and rather wanted an alliance with Inkatha
•Govt. looked unstable with rising poverty levels, unemployment and clashes between rivals
(ANC & Inkatha - third force rumours)
The road to democracy in South Africa (1990-1994)
1. Background
Why were both the NP +ANC prepared to negotiate by 1990?
1. Increasing external pressure in form of boycotts, sanctions + disinvestment.
2. Mounting pressure from business -suffering as a result of economic isolation.
3. NP gov under incr internal pressure – policy of Repression +Reform fails
4. Increasing attacks +protests – country ungovernable
5. Mass civil society protests in 1980s
Formation of UDF, civics, trade unions, SACC, MDM, ECC+black Sash
6. End of Cold War
1.1 Secret Negotiations with the ANC
From mid 1980s certain groups were meeting with ANC leadership try negotiate way forward.
[Anglo American with ALbert Luthuli, prominent Afrikaners, leader of PFP with Thabo Mbeki]
Meeting btw gov+ANC
-> first: 1985 when Minister of Justice, Kobie Coetsee met with Mandela.
-> easy access to talks->Mandela moved Robben Island-Pollsmoor Prison-Victor Verster P
-> July 5th 1989 PW Botha meets with Mandela 1st time
-> 1989: NP elected the more ‘liberal’ F.W. de Klerk as leader +bcm pres
2. 1990-1991
2.1 release of political prisoners+unbanning of orgs
On 2nd February de Klerk announces a life changing agenda
1. unbanning of the ANC, PAC and SACP
2. release of any political prisoners who were arrested as banned members of orgs
3. unconditional release of Nelson Mandela
4. removal of the censorship of the media
5. removal of emergency regulations on organisations such as the UDF and COSATU
6. limiting of the emergency regulations to 6 months with prisoners allowed legal representation
as well as medical treatment
Reaction to change
-generally met with euphoria.
-some white people not happy. Particularly right wing
[-CP + AWB reacted with fear + anger -many NP supporters turned extremist groups]
Obstacles to negotiations
1. ANC had been a resistance group, now it had to become a negotiating party
2. ANC members were impatient as banned 30 years, people wanted change - now
3. ANC had to iron out its differences – militant vs moderates within the party
•NP lost support to the CP – many white political leaders did not want to work with the ANC
and rather wanted an alliance with Inkatha
•Govt. looked unstable with rising poverty levels, unemployment and clashes between rivals
(ANC & Inkatha - third force rumours)
