OCR Specification focus:
‘reasons for and consequences of the State of Emergency 1985–1990; reasons for, nature and consequences of de Klerk’s reforms.’
The State of Emergency (1985–1990) marked a decisive phase in South Africa’s struggle against Apartheid, revealing both the regime’s fragility and the rising power of resistance movements.
Background to the 1985 State of Emergency
By the mid-1980s, the Apartheid system faced unprecedented challenges:
Intensified township unrest as protests erupted in urban Black communities, particularly after the 1983 formation of the United Democratic Front (UDF).
Escalating strikes, boycotts, and acts of civil disobedience organised by trade unions, community groups and student organisations.
Growing international pressure, including economic sanctions and cultural boycotts, severely damaging South Africa’s economy.
The government of P.W. Botha, fearing loss of control, declared a State of Emergency in July 1985, initially covering parts of the country and later extended nationwide.
On 21 July 1985, the government declared a State of Emergency in selected magisterial districts under the Public Safety Act (1953).
Reasons for the State of Emergency
Internal Unrest
Township Violence: Ongoing confrontations between residents and police resulted in widespread casualties and the destruction of infrastructure.
Labour Movements: Strikes in key industries weakened the economy and displayed organised resistance.
Youth Uprisings: Student protests, inspired by earlier movements like the 1976 Soweto Uprising, reignited demands for equality.
Economic Crisis
Falling commodity prices and capital flight created a financial emergency.
International banks recalled loans, causing the rand to plummet and inflation to rise.
International Isolation
Sanctions from the United States, European nations and the Commonwealth pressured the government to change policy.
Growing moral condemnation increased the cost of maintaining Apartheid.
Nature of the State of Emergency
The emergency granted the government extraordinary powers:
Suspension of civil liberties, including freedom of assembly and press.
Widespread censorship and banning of anti-Apartheid publications.
Mass detentions without trial, targeting activists from the ANC, UDF, trade unions, and church organisations.
Deployment of the South African Defence Force (SADF) to townships to restore order.
State of Emergency: A period during which the government assumes special powers to suspend normal laws and rights, often to suppress opposition.
The government framed these measures as necessary to combat what Botha described as a “Total Onslaught” by communist forces and internal agitators.
Consequences of the State of Emergency
Political Impact
Thousands of activists, including future leaders, were detained, yet resistance continued underground.
The brutality of security forces, including torture and extrajudicial killings, further delegitimised the government.
The African National Congress (ANC), operating in exile, gained international sympathy and strengthened its position as the key opposition.
Social Effects
Black communities faced curfews, constant police raids, and fear of arbitrary arrest.
Families were torn apart as leaders were imprisoned or disappeared.
Under the 1986 nationwide emergency, political funerals were restricted, curfews imposed and the media was curtailed.
Mourners at a mass funeral in Uitenhage (1985) after police killings on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Such large political funerals became flashpoints and were later restricted by emergency regulations. The image conveys the mobilisation that the state sought to control. Source
International Response
The violent repression led to harsher sanctions, including trade embargoes and disinvestment campaigns by multinational corporations.
Global public opinion increasingly demanded the release of Nelson Mandela and negotiations for a democratic South Africa.
The End of the State of Emergency
By 1990, the strategy of repression had failed:
Persistent unrest and economic decline convinced many within the National Party that reform was unavoidable.
President F.W. de Klerk, who succeeded Botha in 1989, initiated a new approach.
Security forces and police were deployed in unrest areas to enforce the emergency regulations.
A Casspir armoured vehicle, the kind widely deployed by security forces in township patrols and crowd control during the State of Emergency. Its design allowed high mobility and intimidation in dense urban areas, underpinning detention, cordon-and-search, and curfew enforcement. This particular photograph shows a museum display; the vehicle type is identical to operational models used in the 1980s. Source
Reasons for de Klerk’s Reforms
Economic Necessity: Continuing sanctions and lack of foreign investment made economic recovery impossible under Apartheid.
Political Realities: The inability to crush resistance signalled that the system was unsustainable.
Changing Global Context: The end of the Cold War removed the regime’s justification of fighting communism.
Nature and Key Features of de Klerk’s Reforms
Legalisation of banned organisations, including the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), in 1990.
Release of political prisoners, most notably Nelson Mandela in February 1990.
Repeal of many Apartheid laws, paving the way for constitutional negotiations.
Reform: A deliberate change in political or social policy to improve or adapt existing systems, often in response to internal and external pressures.
Consequences of de Klerk’s Reforms
Initiation of negotiations with the ANC and other parties, leading to the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA).
Rapid move towards the end of Apartheid, culminating in the 1994 democratic elections.
Split within the National Party as hardliners resisted compromise, resulting in political tension and sporadic violence.
Key Points for OCR Study
The State of Emergency (1985–1990) was both a desperate attempt to maintain control and a catalyst for the collapse of Apartheid.
De Klerk’s pragmatic reforms were driven by economic, political and international imperatives and directly shaped South Africa’s transition to democracy.
FAQ
Ordinary judicial oversight was curtailed. Courts had limited power to review detentions without trial, and many detainees were held under vague security provisions. Lawyers often faced restrictions when meeting clients, while emergency regulations allowed police to renew detention orders indefinitely, bypassing normal habeas corpus rights.
The SADF supported police by patrolling townships, setting up roadblocks, and conducting joint operations. Soldiers were authorised to use heavy weaponry, including armoured vehicles and tear gas, to disperse crowds. They worked with police units to impose curfews and search homes, turning many urban areas into militarised zones.
Mining and manufacturing faced reduced foreign investment and export markets.
Finance suffered from loan recalls by international banks, causing a currency crisis.
Consumer goods industries experienced shortages due to trade embargoes and loss of imported materials, fuelling inflation and unemployment.
Foreign journalists were restricted to accredited areas and risked expulsion for reporting on protests or police violence. South African newspapers faced pre-publication censorship, with banned articles replaced by blank spaces or innocuous fillers. This created an underground press culture and increased reliance on foreign broadcasters for uncensored news.
Authorities required permits for funerals, restricted attendance numbers, and often banned political speeches or symbols. Funerals had become major protest events where anti-Apartheid leaders mobilised crowds and displayed banned flags. Limiting these gatherings aimed to reduce public demonstrations of resistance and weaken community solidarity against the regime.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
Identify two key reasons why the South African government declared a State of Emergency in July 1985.
Mark Scheme
1 mark for each accurate reason, up to a maximum of 2 marks.
Acceptable answers include:
Escalating township unrest and violent protests.
Growing international pressure and sanctions damaging the economy.
Severe economic crisis, including falling commodity prices and capital flight.
Rising labour strikes and industrial action weakening government control.
Question 2 (5 marks)
Explain two significant consequences of the State of Emergency (1985–1990) for the Apartheid government.
Mark Scheme
Award up to 3 marks for each well-explained consequence, maximum 5 marks overall.
1 mark for identifying a valid consequence, plus up to 2 marks for development and explanation.
Indicative content:
International condemnation and sanctions: Further trade embargoes and disinvestment increased economic isolation and pressured the government towards reform.
Strengthened opposition movements: Despite repression, organisations such as the ANC gained sympathy and support, both domestically and internationally.
Political destabilisation: Harsh measures, including mass detentions and censorship, eroded the regime’s legitimacy and demonstrated that Apartheid was unsustainable.
Accept other relevant consequences if accurately explained.
