Question

describe the freedom struggle of South Africa? 5 points.

Answer 1

Although Apartheid only ‘officially’ started in 1948, repression was rife in South Africa long before that date. This special project examines the Freedom Struggle from the beginning of the 20th century up until South Africa's first democratic election in April 1994.

This archive presents this history in two parts, namely; Emerging African Nationalism and Working-Class and Popular Resistance 1900-1950s, and The Armed Struggle and Popular Resistance 1960-1994 respectively. Please note that ‘periodizing’ history is subjective and in this case, reflects the nature of the highlighted theme, the shifting locus of power. In the first half of the twentieth century this shifts between the new state (Union of South Africa), the imperial interests (for example, the two world wars) and the protests of different social groups. In the post-Sharpeville phase, the locus of power is poised between the state and the resistance movement and is increasingly concentrated in the popular resistance movement.

Answer 2

The South African freedom struggle always raised the issue of justice for every citizen of the country. From the mid 17th century to the late 20th century, when apartheid reigned in South Africa, the cause was for peace, love and humanity.

A fascinating aspect of our history is the South African freedom struggle. There are struggle heritage sites all over the country, including the Sol Plaatje Museum in Kimberley, the Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto, Constitution Hill in Johannesburg and the Steve Biko Garden of Remembrance in Ginsberg outside King William's Town.

The South African freedom struggle began when the Khoi-khoi resisted the establishment of a refreshment station at Table Bay by the Dutch East India Company in 1652.

But until January 1912, when the forerunner to the African National Congress (ANC) was established, the battle against growing oppression was localised. And even then it would remain fairly passive until apartheid in South Africa was entrenched in law in 1948, which ushered in a period of repression infinitely worse than anything experienced before.

At the behest of young activists like Nelson Mandela, the ANC began to change its direction to a mass-based movement intent on liberation from apartheid in South Africa.

Growing resistance culminated in the Sharpeville Massacre in March 1960, during which the police killed 69 protestors. In panic the government declared a state of emergency and banned the ANC and other liberation movements.