To What Extent Did Political Negotiations 1989-91 End In Compromise?

De Klerk's New Course

1989 - Apartheid still technically in place but the country was divided - both sides held strong hands
1989 - Botha had a stroke and was replaced by de Klerk
De Klerk quickly reduced military budges and reduced the input of the State Security Council
He was more keen to find compromises and be a political peacemaker
International political allies were slipping away (Reagan in America and Thatcher in Britain)
Falling of the Berlin Wall in 1989 --> End of communist influence in Europe

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By mid-1989, it was clear that the ANC was committed to negotiations
Key ANC leaders were freed in 1989
De Klerk and Mandela met for the first time in Dec 1989
The bulk of white people no longer supported apartheid (as a formal policy) --> White people had done well under apartheid but had now lost too much to civil conflict --> negotiation seemed inevitable
Mandela released in 1990 and unbanned political parties (ANC, PAC and CP)
Mandela spent a lot of time travelling during this period of time --> two trips to the UK as a hub for the ANC in exile and the home of the AAM.
April 1990, the second visit to London was televised with an audience of 500 mil people (8 min SO)
1991, UDF disbanded - this decision may have weakened grassroots political organisations - may have been wiser to set up a separate wing of alliance like COSATU
ANC absorbed many youth comrades
By 1991, the ANC had successfully absorbed some of the key popular opposition forces.

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Mandela stopped trusting de Klerk and de Klerk found the ANC uncompromising
The ANC felt they were being asked to give up too much
However, all did agree to the first round of formal negotiations in 1991 in a process called the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA)
The NP central aim was still to devise a constitutional strategy that might protect minorities.

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