Question

Give a brief account of the opposition to Apartheid within South Africa.

Answer 1

Opposition to apartheid within South Africa was widespread and grew stronger over time. It involved a range of individuals, political groups, and mass movements:

1. African National Congress (ANC): The ANC led the resistance through protests, strikes, and civil disobedience. It later adopted armed struggle through its military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe.

2. Leaders like Nelson Mandela and Albert Lutuli: Mandela played a key role in mobilising youth and organising campaigns, while Lutuli promoted non-violent resistance and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960.

3. Pan Africanist Congress (PAC): A breakaway group from the ANC, it also organised protests, including the Sharpeville protest in 1960, where police killed 69 demonstrators.

4. Trade Unions and Students: Labour groups and student movements, like the 1976 Soweto Uprising, where students protested against being taught in Afrikaans, became central to the resistance.

5. Religious and Community Leaders: Figures like Desmond Tutu used their platforms to speak against apartheid.

6. Underground and Cultural Resistance: Many South Africans opposed apartheid through music, literature, and underground publications, keeping the spirit of resistance alive.