Collapse of Apartheid: Part I

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF APARTHEID IN 1977:

POSITION OF NP AND INTERNAL STRENGTH OF THE STATE:

STRENGTHS:

• NP continues to dominate domestic politics

• Other white communities entrenched in apartheid

• SADF, BOSS (internal borders has strong security)

WEAKNESSES:

• Corruption and scandal

• Undermine regime

• Increased tactionalism within NP

• Moderate radicals

• Failure of Bantustans

• Using 18% of GDP on arms/training

THE ANC AND ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT:

STRENGTHS:

• Thousands of young cadets

• Radicalised with NP beliefs

• Guerilla trained tactics

• Try to set up freedom fighters

• Towards urban areas

WEAKNESSES:

• Military incursions have little impact

• No clear leader

• Slow progress

• Mutinies

• Young members did not listen to older ones

• PAC were relatively ineffective

INTERNATIONAL OPINION AND OPPOSITION:

STRENGTHS:

• Mozambique (significant threat after decolonisation)

• Aligned to ANC

• UN sanctions against apartheid

WEAKNESSES:

• Entrenched larger nationality

• Never posed a military threat

• African nations depended on SA economically

STUDENT/TRADE MOVEMENTS/UNIONS:

STRENGTHS:

• Supported by many people

• Black university student leader making direct impacts

• Catalysts in…