This case study belongs to the prescribed subject: Rights and protest

See also: Case study 1: Civil rights movement in the United States

Nature and characteristics of discrimination

What were the main reasons for segregation in SA prior to 1948?

Ideology

• The Boers (predominantly) came over with Calvinist ideas and kept them, isolated from the development of European ideas
• Thought they were God’s chosen people, especially after defeating natives at Blood River
• Racism was justified by ideas of Social Darwinism in early 20th century
• Rise of Nazism was admired by many of the Afrikaners
• Objected to British government joining Allies in WW2

Economic Profit:

• British wanted cheap labour in the mines, to maximise profits
• Native Africans were initially slaves, then after its abolishment they were paid very little
• Afrikaners wanted cheap labour on their land (many still kept African slaves)

Politics:

• British and Boers needed some sort of unity in order to find peace, because war is expensive in resources
  • Hence, the unification of S Africa, and thereby the Europeans as a united group (whites)

What were the main causes of the Nationalist government obtaining power in 1948?

• Already some segregating policies implemented by the UP prior to 1948
• Mostly to keep natives working cheaply in mines
• Afrikaner nationalism rises, as separation between them and the British-majority government become more pronounced
• Rural Afrikaners felt they weren’t being represented by UP, especially in its decision to join the Allies in WW2
• In the election, constituencies balanced in favour of more rural regions in the Transvaal and Free State, where the predominantly rural Afrikaner population voted for the NP, which they felt better represented them
• African migration into cities meant greater poor Afrikaner hostility

1948 Election

• UP had more voters
• But NP had more constituencies (70 vs 65)
• Coalition government with Afrikaner Party (AP) gives NP a very narrow margin
• But both have coalition governments
• Definitely not a landslide victory
• Daniel F Malan
• Institutionalised racism

Grand Apartheid vs Petty Apartheid

Impacts of District 6

District 6 was a very multicultural part of Cape Town, but declared white only. The resulting impact was:

• Destroyed black homes in place of white buildings (residential, economic)
• Blacks deported to outer district (residential, social, economic)
• District 6 community was torn apart (social)
• Suicides due to this (social)
• Anger (social)

Civil Disobedience organisations

• ANC - African National Congress
• NAC - National Action Community
• SAIC - South African Indian Congress
• NVB - National Volunteers Board
• FRAC - Franchise Action Council
• SACP - South African Communist Party

MK (Umkhoto we Sizwe) and Rivonia Trial

• Formed after Sharpeville
• Sabotage
• Training grounds in Mozambigue, Angola and Zimbabwe, among others
• Mandela arrested in ‘62 for trying to leave country
• 5 years in prison
• Admitted to MK membership in custody
• 1962 - 63 operations continued
• Raid on base in Rivonia
• Key MK members arrested
• Rivonia Trials, 1963
  • Sabotage (under act of 1962)
  • Planning Guerilla war - documents found at HQ
• Mandela and 10 other leaders on trial for (among other offences):

The role and significance of key actors/groups

Chief Albert Luthuli

Who was he?

• President General of ANC 1952-67
• Chief of Groutville in Native Reserve
• Dismissed due to ANC association
• Teacher
• Strong Christian
• Wrote “The Road to Freedom was via the Cross”
• Pacifist due to Christianity, and generally opposed armed struggle

What did he do?

• Led Defiance Campaign
• ANC banned as official political party under Suppression of Communism Act
• Operated underground still
• 1954 arrested in relation with ANC
• ANC re-banned after his release
• Mediated between Charterists (democratic) and Africanists (African nationalist)
• Died in 1967

Was he successful?

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