Violence in the 1990s and Debates About Violence (Grade 12 NSC Matric History): Revision Notes

Violence in the 1990s and Debates About Violence

The continuation of violence despite CODESA

During the early 1990s, South Africa faced a critical challenge as violence continued to escalate even while negotiations were taking place. CODESA (Convention for a Democratic South Africa) was unable to prevent the outbreak of serious conflicts across the country.

Key problems that emerged:

• Self-defence units formed in townships: When IFP (Inkatha Freedom Party) supporters, backed by police forces, launched attacks on township residents, communities had no choice but to protect themselves by forming organised defence groups.

• Violence spiralled out of control in KwaZulu-Natal: What started as political disagreements between different groups quickly became widespread fighting, particularly in townships and rural areas where rival political factions attacked each other.

• White extremist groups added to the chaos: Racial murders committed by extreme right-wing white groups created an additional layer of fear and tension throughout the country.

• Weapons in public became a major issue: The ANC repeatedly demanded that the government ban IFP supporters from carrying weapons in public spaces. However, the IFP argued this was part of Zulu traditional culture, and the government supported their position.

The ongoing violence during 1991 and 1992 placed enormous pressure on the negotiation process, making it extremely difficult for leaders to find common ground.

Breakdown of negotiations

The Boipatong massacre - 17 July 1992

A pivotal moment came when IFP-aligned hostel dwellers launched a brutal attack on the ANC-supporting informal settlement of Boipatong. This massacre became a turning point in the negotiations.

CODESA collapses

For almost a full year, there were no formal talks between the major parties. The ANC, working together with COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions), decided to channel the nation's anger into organised resistance.

Public confrontation and rolling mass action

The ANC and COSATU launched a campaign of rolling mass action to pressure the government into taking serious action against violence and abandoning its minority veto position.

What rolling mass action included:

• Strikes across multiple industries to show the economic impact of continued apartheid
• Massive public demonstrations against both the government and homeland governments
• A national strike in early August where Mandela led 50,000 people in a march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria
• The Bisho massacre (7 September): When 70,000 ANC members marched on Bisho (capital of Ciskei Bantustan), Ciskei troops opened fire, killing 28 marchers

The violence at Bisho shocked both De Klerk and Mandela, leading to an exchange of hostile letters about the urgent need to end the bloodshed.

The 'whites only' referendum

President F.W. de Klerk made a crucial political gamble by calling for a referendum among white voters only. His decision was driven by two main factors:

Why De Klerk called the referendum:

• Lack of party unity: He didn't have the full support of all National Party members for continuing negotiations
• Pressure to abandon talks: Many within his own party and from other white groups were calling for him to end the negotiation process entirely

Behind the scenes negotiation

While public talks remained suspended, secret discussions continued between key figures from both sides.

Secret meetings:

• Cyril Ramaphosa (representing the ANC/UDF) and Roelf Meyer (representing the National Party) met secretly more than 40 times between June and September 1992
• These behind-the-scenes talks were crucial for finding a way forwards when formal negotiations had completely broken down

The economic and social pressure:

• The deadlocked negotiations were causing serious damage to South Africa's economy
• Violence continued to threaten the country's stability
• Both sides recognised that their supporters needed to be prepared for significant compromises

What was decided?

After a year of internal debate and secret negotiations, both major parties made important concessions:

National Party concessions:

• Abandoned minority vetoes: The NP gave up its insistence on explicit minority vetoes in the new political system
• Accepted liberal democracy: They agreed that Afrikaners would be better protected under a liberal democratic constitution with limited power sharing for just the first few years

ANC concessions:

• Recognised the IFP problem: They acknowledged that the alliance between the government and IFP was creating obstacles for successful negotiations
• Agreed to compromise on governance: They accepted that some form of power sharing would be necessary during the transition period

The Sunset Clause and the Record of Understanding

The Sunset Clause:

This crucial agreement, proposed by Joe Slovo, guaranteed that:

• White government officials would keep their jobs for 5 years after the transition to democracy
• This provided security for civil servants and helped reduce white fears about the transition

The Record of Understanding established several key agreements:

Political agreements:

• A democratically elected constitution-making body would also serve as a transitional Government of National Unity
• Most remaining political prisoners would be released immediately

Violence prevention measures:

• Hostels associated with violence would be fenced off and closely monitored by police
• Carrying weapons in public would be prohibited - addressing the ANC's long-standing concern
• The right to peaceful mass action was formally recognised and protected

Government policy change:

• The government quietly abandoned its support for the IFP, removing a major obstacle to progress

These agreements laid the foundation for South Africa's transition to democracy by addressing both the practical concerns about violence and the political concerns about power sharing.