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The British realised that they had to attempt some kind of co-operation with the Boers and a 'representative government' was established in 1906 (not very representative in fact since none of the black population were allowed to stand for parliament…)
The Union of South Africa was established in 1910, excluding the area which is now Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana (Bechuanaland) & Zimbabwe (Rhodesia). The first election was held, and won by the South Africa National Party, a coalition of Boer groups under the leadership of General Louis Botha and General Jan Smuts. Botha became the first Prime Minister.
Repressive legislation was implemented which included rules such as no striking by black workers and increased laws governing the movements of the black population.These laws |
prompted Pixley ka Isaka Seme to form the South Africa Native Congress in 1912, later becoming the ANC in 1923. In 1913 the Natives Land Act allocated 7.5% of the land area to the black population (approximately 70% of South Africa's people). Squatters were moved from traditional land to overcrowded reserves or cities.
In 1914 South Africa found itself at war with Germany, by default in its role as part of the British empire. Involvement on the side of the British prompted the last major Boer rebellion. South West Africa (now Namibia) was taken from German control and became part of South Africa under mandate from the League of Nations following the end of WWI. In 1924 the National Party, under the leadership of the staunch supporter of Afrikaner independence, Hertzog, merged with the South African National Party to form a fusion government. Jan Smuts became deputy to Hertzog, but this joint government was rejected by Dr. D. F. Malan and followers who formed the Purified National Party and became known as the 'Broederband" of Afrikaans brotherhood.
During the second World War, South Africa's economy boomed and the black urban population nearly doubled with enormous squatter camps building up outside the cities. The National Party won the 1948 election on an apartheid platform; apartheid literally means a 'state of being apart'. Power was held in this way until 1994. Previous laws were strengthened and every aspect of life was made separate, from residential areas to public amenities with each member of the black population being required to carry a pass at all times and having their movements vigorously restricted.
In 1949 the ANC began to move towards open resistance and more physical methods of objection to this unethical state of government. Illegal strikes were organised along with protest marches and public disobedience. As part of a 1955 congress, a number of organisations including the ANC and the Indian Congress, adopted a Freedom Charter with a vision of a non-racial and democratic state.
The situation escalated enormously with the Sharpville riots in 1960 when police opened fire on demonstrators and many black protestors were openly killed. Shortly afterwards, the ANC and the PAC (Pan African Congress) were banned and a vote was taken on withdrawing from the British Commonwealth. A slim majority voted in favour of this and South Africa became the Republic of South Africa in May 1961. At this point Nelson Mandela became the leader of the underground ANC and Oliver Tambo was sent abroad to establish and promote the organisation in exile. Mandela was arrested in July 1963.
The Homelands Policy was brought into place around this time; another separatist policy which was promoted under the guise of providing the black population with their own, self-governed, states.
These 'traditional' tribal areas were in fact the least desirable land areas in terms of agriculture, industry or any other viable means of making a living. Often, people were removed to tribal areas bearing no resemblance to their traditional background. No infrastructure was provided in the Homelands and the land areas were incapable of producing enough food to keep the population self-sufficient. Once again, a tiny percentage of the land area (13%) was assigned to 75% of the population. Residents were not allowed outside their homeland without a pass and prior permission.
By 1980 South Africa (along with South West Africa) was the last remaining white controlled state in Africa. Pressure was rising and sanctions were being steadily increased by countries abroad. The ANC and PAC had direct support from black African governments (except Malawi & Swaziland). Between 1977 & 1988 the South African Defence Force undertook some major attacks in Angola, Zimbabwe & Moçambique in an attempt to defend their position. By 1985 the country was under a state of emergency with censored media and up to 30,000 people detained without trial. Foreign banks refused to roll over government loans, sanctions continued to increase and the value of the Rand collapsed.
In 1989 Botha was replaced by FW De Klerk who realised the vital importance of ending the farcical struggles within the country. In 1990 the ANC, PAC & Communist Party were legalised, and Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years. This was also the year of Independence in South West Africa, which became Namibia. An interim government of National Unity ruled South Africa until the 1994 elections, the first free and fair of the countries history. The ANC won with just under 63% of the vote.
Today's President is Thabo Mbeki. South Africa has re-joined the Commonwealth and the economy is based on a mix of modern industry and urban and subsistence agriculture. The natural mineral and wildlife wealth dwarfs the rest of the African continent, and the country has excellent infrastructure with extensive road and rail networks in addition to modern ports. Minerals account for more than 70% of exports, and 13% of GDP. The current population is approximately 44 million (2001 Census) with health care and education being generally good but struggling with the enlarged demand following the 1994 elections. The health & welfare systems, as in surrounding countries, are also suffering from the effects of HIV & AIDS. South Africa's official languages are now English, Afrikaans, Ndebele, SeSotho, Lebowa, SiSwati, Xitsonga, SeTswana, Tshivenda, Xhosa & Zulu!
It has been, and will continue to be, a long road to full equality and a history of poor education and training means that the white population are still prominent in the skilled jobs sector. It will take at least a generation following the 1994 elections for some kind of balance to be attained, and in the meantime people are becoming frustrated and impatient. Hopefully the initial optimism, combined with the enormous potential that is South Africa's natural heritage, will win through and this country's people will develop together the standards of living that have been so lacking for so long.
