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The Struggles And Secret Talks That Brought Apartheid South Africa To The Negotiating Table

Clarence Mitchell

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Published in Breakthrough: The Struggles And Secret Talks That Brought Apartheid South Africa To The Negotiating Table

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For decades, the brutal system of apartheid cast a dark shadow over South Africa, enforcing racial segregation and denying millions of Black South Africans basic human rights. But even amidst the oppression, seeds of change were being sown through secret talks that would eventually lead to the dismantling of apartheid.

Breakthrough: The Struggles and Secret Talks that Brought Apartheid South Africa to the Negotiating Table

by Alec Ross

4.5 out of 5

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The Seeds of Dissent

Throughout the 1980s, the apartheid regime faced mounting pressure from within and outside the country. Internally, the African National Congress (ANC),under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, intensified its armed struggle. Internationally, sanctions and boycotts exerted economic and diplomatic pressure on the South African government.

As the struggle intensified, the National Party government, led by F.W. de Klerk, realized that the status quo could no longer be sustained. In early 1990, de Klerk made his famous speech announcing the unbanning of the ANC and other political parties.

CODESA and the Path to Negotiations

With the path to negotiations now open, the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) was established in 1991. CODESA brought together a wide range of political parties, including the ANC, the National Party, the Inkatha Freedom Party, and the Democratic Party.

The negotiations at CODESA were complex and often fraught with conflict. The ANC and other liberation movements demanded a complete end to apartheid and the establishment of a multi-racial democracy. The National Party, on the other hand, sought to preserve some elements of white privilege and minority control.

Violence and Resistance

While the secret talks were taking place, violence and resistance continued to rage in South Africa. Inkatha supporters clashed violently with ANC supporters, resulting in hundreds of deaths. The apartheid security forces also engaged in brutal acts of repression against anti-apartheid activists.

Despite the violence, the secret talks provided a glimmer of hope that a peaceful resolution to the conflict could be achieved.

International Pressure and Role of the United Nations

International pressure also played a significant role in pushing both sides toward negotiations. The United Nations Security Council adopted a series of resolutions condemning apartheid and calling for the release of political prisoners.

The threat of additional sanctions and the prospect of international isolation forced the South African government to accept the need for negotiations.

Multi-Party Negotiations and the Interim Constitution

After CODESA, multi-party negotiations continued at the World Trade Center in Kempton Park, near Johannesburg. The negotiations were facilitated by Cyril Ramaphosa for the ANC and Roelf Meyer for the National Party.

The negotiations covered a wide range of issues, including the constitution, the electoral system, and the future of the security forces.

In 1993, the negotiations resulted in the adoption of an interim constitution that established a Government of National Unity (GNU). The GNU included members from both the ANC and the National Party and was tasked with overseeing the transition to a fully democratic South Africa.

The First Multi-Racial Elections and the Birth of a New South Africa

In April 1994, South Africa held its first multi-racial elections. The ANC won a landslide victory, and Nelson Mandela became the country's first Black president.

The election marked the end of apartheid and the dawn of a new era of democracy and reconciliation.

The secret talks that brought apartheid South Africa to the negotiating table played a vital role in ending one of the darkest chapters in human history. Through a combination of internal resistance, international pressure, and the courage of leaders on both sides, South Africa was able to transition to a multi-racial democracy.

The story of the secret talks is a testament to the power of dialogue and negotiation, even in the face of adversity. It is a story of hope, reconciliation, and the triumph of the human spirit.

Breakthrough: The Struggles and Secret Talks that Brought Apartheid South Africa to the Negotiating Table

by Alec Ross

4.5 out of 5