Question

Discuss the reasons for the freedom struggle in South Africa.

Answer 1

Answer:

All national movements for freedom and justice spread ripples beyond their national boundaries.  But some stand out as beacons guiding and inspiring peoples all over the world and for generations.  Such was the great freedom movement of Ireland, and I believe the movement in my own country, India.  Such, indeed, is the movement for freedom in South Africa which has been engaged in a long and difficult struggle against an injustice that has hardly a parallel. The unique oppression that has, since 1948, been described as apartheid – despite the pseudo-religious justifications given by its proponents – is contrary to all ethical values.  It seeks the transformation of  an  African country into one where the children of the soil are aliens.  It has forcibly separated people by “race” and even families as in the days of slavery.  It has involved deliberate lowering of standards of education of Africans for an entire generation – because the “master race” has lost confidence in its superiority.  As against this has developed in the last century a movement which is unmatched in morality – a movement which rejects all hate and all racialism, which seeks to build a community of humankind, and which has been twice honoured by the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in the persons of Chief Albert Lutuli and Bishop Desmond Tutu.  Nelson Mandela, leader of this liberation movement, confined in prison for over 22 years by a regime which hoped he would be forgotten, has received more honours all over the world than any political prisoner.   He stands more than ever as a symbol of Africa’s indomitable will to be free and of humanity’s rejection of racism. The South African liberation movement inspired and assisted freedom movements in all neighbouring countries.  Leaders of the former High Commission Territories – Lesotho, Botswana and Swaziland – were among the founders of the African National Congress of South Africa and could count on the assistance of the latter when they formed their own movements after the Second World War.