Essay on Ending Of Apartheid In South Africa - 627 Words

There were many factors which contributed to the ending of apartheid. After years of segregation and oppression of blacks, many different chronological events put together led to an eventual reform in South Africa of equality and democracy for everybody. However, the factor which I think played the most important part in the ending of apartheid was releasing ANC leader Nelson Mandela in 1990. Not only did it symbolise a fresh start for the country, but also a new found uniformity of its people. At the time, this move by the government was quite unexpected, but in retrospect, an inevitability. The prime minister of South Africa in 1989 was PW. Botha, however after having a stroke, and being forced into bitter resignation, was replaced†¦show more content†¦However, the most probable reason was that apartheid was no longer practical or possible to maintain in the country. This underlying fact had been brought about by several events. Fourteen years prior to Mandela’s release in 1976 school pupils had rioted in Soweto, the result of which had been many deaths amongst the children. The cause of the riot had been because of the appauling conditions in black township schools. Classes were over-crowded, there were no facilities and most importantly the pupils were being taught in Afrikaan. The language was not spoken anywhere else in the world, and they felt that they were simply being prepared as slaves for the whites. The horrifying incident caused uproar in many other townships which lasted for months. Although the government claimed the riots were unpolitical, the Soweto troubles let loose by far the largest period of unrest in South Africa’s history. It showed that officials were beginning to loose control. In 1985 a partial state of emergency was declared in South Africa. This was as a result of further violent uprisings and clearly showed the national’s weakening hold over the townships. Black resistance made many parts of the country ungovernable. On top of all this, there were many economic pressures. In the 1970’s, western business leaders found that apartheid laws were effecting economic progress and people began to feel that imposong sanctions on South Africa would be the only wayShow MoreRelatedThe Role of Nelson Mandela in Ending Apartheid in South Africa783 Words   |  4 Pages Nelson Mandela’s role in bringing Apartheid to an end was very important, however, there were many other factors that contributed to the ending of Apartheid. The African National Congress, also known as the ANC, was a major factor in ending Apartheid. Even when the ANC became illegal in South Africa it moved to continue its work against Apartheid. In 1940 Dr. A. B. Xuma became president of the ANC; he rescued a struggling organisation. In 1944 he reorganisedRead MoreHow Far Has the Importance of Nelson Mandela in the Ending of Apartheid Been Exaggerated?1748 Words   |  7 PagesHow far has the importance of Nelson Mandela in the ending of apartheid been exaggerated? It can be argued that the importance of Nelson Mandela in the ending of apartheid has been greatly exaggerated. Apartheid ended due to a combination of long term and short term events. The ANC represented the main opposition of apartheid while protests and rebellions caught the attention of the world, international sanctions put pressure on the south African government and something had to be done before theirRead MoreThe Struggle Against the Apartheid State of South Africa Essay850 Words   |  4 PagesBlacks began. 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It can be argued this from the factRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem F.w De Klerk Fixing A Broken Land1420 Words   |  6 Pagesland, God bless Africa Sea and sand My love My land, God bless Africa But more the South of Africa Where we live†¦ Bless the angry mountains And the smiling hills Where the cool water spills To heal the earth’s brow Bless the children of South Africa The white children And the black children Who lost the sea and the sand That they may not lose love For white children Whose fathers raped the land†¦ Sea and sand My love My land, God bless Africa (The land and People of South Africa) This piece of artRead MoreThe Ending of White Minority and Nelson Mandela Essay1710 Words   |  7 PagesThe Ending of White Minority and Nelson Mandela In 1948, the Apartheid system officially started. A Dr. Malan introduced it. He established the structure of Apartheid because he exclaimed different races could not live amongst each other in harmony and needed to live separately. Some might argue it was because he wanted to secure the supposed superiority of the White minority. It ended within 50 year of starting. This essay is going to explain how Nelson Mandela, onceRead MoreSouth Africas Apartheid Policy661 Words   |  3 PagesSouth Africas Apartheid Policy of 1948 Nazi practices during World War II were so horrific that many countries began to feel shame about internal racial problems in home countries. In France, the United Kingdom, and the United States liberal politicians and intellectuals began to condemn racism against non-whites and push for civil rights reforms. South Africa, however, did not follow the same route. The White minority of South Africa decided to build a state based on total separation (apartheid)Read MoreWhat Was The Impact Of Nelson Mandela996 Words   |  4 Pageswithin South Africa. He later went on to create the Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), MK for short, in December 1961. 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MandelaRead MoreEssay about Politics and Apartheid1045 Words   |  5 Pageseyes and skin stretched over bones, these people were living skeletons. The dark-skinned citizens of South Africa could attribute their misfortune due to the state of politics in South Africa, where prejudice against dark skinned people ran as rampant as disease and poverty. Due to politics working against dark-skinned people beginning three years after South Africa gained its independence, apartheid was established and fought for by racists and against by activists until it was ended in 1991. The