Botha’s Reforms and Repression:
What led to Collapse of Apartheid?
● Many historians look at Soweto Uprising (1976) as year of catalyst (tide turning against
apartheid government)
● Actually 1980s- crucial turning point
● Beginning of 1980s ANC and other political parties in exile, political leaders in jail and
apartheid government seemed to have enough political power and military foe to
maintain control
● Mid 1980s- clear that the government facing crisis
● End of 1980s- sustained internal and external pressures set scene for collapse of
apartheid
● Opposition parties un-banned, political prisoners released and apartheid government
negotiating to share power with ANC
Government's Attempts to Reform Apartheid:
● After Soweto Uprising, apartheid government changed strategy and began to mix reform
and repression
● Reform: change for better
● Repression: to keep under/keep in check
● Government reformed apartheid in hope that they would gain support from growing black
middle class
● However, ruthlessly suppressed opposition in an attempt to maintain own white
domination
● Under leadership of PW Botha (1978-1989) government developed strategy called:
“Total Onslaught – Total Strategy”.
● Government produced propaganda, trying to make people believe that communists
(Soviet Union and Cuba) plotting to take control of SA through military attacks, protests
and international criticism
● This alleged conspiracy called: “total onslaught”
● Using outdated (Cold War propaganda) they adopted ‘total strategy’ to meet onslaught
● Involved increase in:
- Military build-up
- Censorship
- Banning of people
- Organisations
- Political rallies
- Detentions without trials
What led to Collapse of Apartheid?
● Many historians look at Soweto Uprising (1976) as year of catalyst (tide turning against
apartheid government)
● Actually 1980s- crucial turning point
● Beginning of 1980s ANC and other political parties in exile, political leaders in jail and
apartheid government seemed to have enough political power and military foe to
maintain control
● Mid 1980s- clear that the government facing crisis
● End of 1980s- sustained internal and external pressures set scene for collapse of
apartheid
● Opposition parties un-banned, political prisoners released and apartheid government
negotiating to share power with ANC
Government's Attempts to Reform Apartheid:
● After Soweto Uprising, apartheid government changed strategy and began to mix reform
and repression
● Reform: change for better
● Repression: to keep under/keep in check
● Government reformed apartheid in hope that they would gain support from growing black
middle class
● However, ruthlessly suppressed opposition in an attempt to maintain own white
domination
● Under leadership of PW Botha (1978-1989) government developed strategy called:
“Total Onslaught – Total Strategy”.
● Government produced propaganda, trying to make people believe that communists
(Soviet Union and Cuba) plotting to take control of SA through military attacks, protests
and international criticism
● This alleged conspiracy called: “total onslaught”
● Using outdated (Cold War propaganda) they adopted ‘total strategy’ to meet onslaught
● Involved increase in:
- Military build-up
- Censorship
- Banning of people
- Organisations
- Political rallies
- Detentions without trials
