| Cape Town History | ||
| Self-Government | ||
| Rise of Prejudice | ||
| With the right to self-government a more conservative era began that favoured commercial interests over the interests of the poor and the liberal influence began to diminish. Political power had shifted to the local population, which was mostly conservative and Afrikaans and the Empire was also losing its liberal instincts. Newspapers voiced a more hostile attitude towards the poor and the government emphasised policies of 'control' rather than poverty alleviation. The development of infrastructure at the Cape and into the interior, particularly the harbour and railways, came just in time to benefit from a series of economic booms namely the discovery of diamonds, then the discovery of gold and finally the South African war. With these came unprecedented immigration and urban growth. The growth of slums and the fear of disease led the authorities to develop the first township for non-Europeans. In the aftermath of the South African War, Britain agreed to a peace put forward by a national convention that created the modern South Africa and brought peace, but excluded the black majority. |
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| The early 20th Century | ||
| In the years 1910 - 1948 the city continued to grow and took on a modern appearance, but the influence of new laws and old prejudices led to discrimination that separated and stratified the population on racial lines. In the new Union of South Africa, Cape Town was the seat of parliament but real economic and political power was held in the Transvaal, a thousand miles north-east. Through monuments and new institutions Cape Town asserted itself as a cultural centre of South Africa, the 'Mother City' of the nation. Economic hardship and racial discrimination encouraged policies that favoured whites; this created economic and cultural differences that steadily split the population along racial lines. Afrikaner Nationalism grew stronger across South Africa, leading to a growingright-wing movement. With increasing migration and an economic depression, conditions of absolute poverty developed in the inner-city and in shanty towns on the outskirts of the city. |
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| Apartheid legislation | ||
| The apartheid policy of the National Party, which came to power in 1948, brought a barrage of legislation to bear upon South Africans that, firstly,categorised them by race and then controlled their freedom according to their race group. Race laws affected every aspect of life for South Africans. It provided whites with access to the most privileged suburbs, education, jobs and positions, even to the extent of exclusive access to beaches, theatres, parks, bridges and public toilets. The system ensured that 'white' privileges were beyond the reach of blacks. The government enforced apartheid ruthlessly. Large areas of Cape Town were designated 'white suburbs' and coloured and black communities were forced to leave and settle on the Cape Flats. Black people had to carry a pass giving them permission to stay in Cape Town and were forced to leave if they were not in work. The government closed down mission schools and excluded blacks from advanced education. | ||
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| Resistance and Repression | ||
| There were widespread attempts to protest against the apartheid system in the 1950s. As large-scale anti-pass demonstrations and marches broke out in Cape Town in 1960, a State of Emergency was declared, and the ANC banned. Apartheid laws and the power of the police made it impossible to legally protest against the system. Many opposition leaders were exiled or jailed, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison and sent to Robben Island. The ANC and PAC turned to armed resistance, but the police successfully suppressed their activities. Driven by poverty shanty towns continued to grow. Following the example of the children of Soweto, near Johannesburg, youth in Cape Town demonstrated against apartheid in 1976. Street battles ensued as police tried to crack down on demonstrations. 128 people were killed and over 400 injured in related violence in the city that year. The scale of the violence shocked Capetonians and the world, and marked the beginning of a new phase of struggle against the authorities. | ||
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| Turning Tide | ||
| Under pressure at home and abroad the Government promised change, and ceased to enforce petty apartheid. Cape Town City Council and private companies were quick to remove segregation. Public places were opened and people began to mix more freely. However, laws that required segregation of residential locations and schooling remained firmly in place throughout the 1980s. Political changes to allow coloured participation in government were seen as tokenism, and blacks remained excluded. The reform of apartheid did not impress the growing number of activists and a formidable range of organisations began to work together to fight apartheid. Church leaders, such as Desmond Tutu, students, unions, welfare organisations and civic bodies began to work under the United Democratic Front to coordinate protests. Although most protests were peaceful, many ended in violence as the police tried to break them up. By the mid 1980s the tide had turned and the movement against apartheid gathered an unstoppable momentum. | ||
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| The End of Apartheid | ||
| The government resorted to declaring a 'State of Emergency' several times, but these only confirmed the failure of apartheid and the government's illegitimacy. Against a backdrop of increasing economic hardship and international pressure the government secretly began negotiations with Nelson Mandela. By 1989 a mass movement for democracy had developed that included people from all backgrounds, including City and church leaders. Multi-racial beach parties were held on 'white only' beaches and staged marches to celebrate District Six. Police used violence against peaceful protests and 30,000 people marched through Cape Town led by the Mayor, Desmond Tutu and others to remember those who had been hurt and call for an end to segregation. In the September 1989 elections white Capetonians voted resoundingly against the government. | ||
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| Mandela´s Release | ||
| President FW de Klerk took the world by surprise in February 1990 when he announced the unbanning of the ANC and other parties, and the release of political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela. His purpose was to stop violent insurrection and begin a process to negotiate a 'a new and just constitution' for South Africa. It was the end of apartheid.After 27 years in jail, Mandela walked free on the 11th February and that evening spoke to a huge crowd that had gathered in the centre of Cape Town. The 'new South Africa' was proclaimed in Cape Town by FW de Klerk, in February 1990. The city welcomed Mandela upon his release and the first high level public meetings between the Government and ANC were held in Cape Town at Groote Schuur. | ||
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