Show the methods used/employed by black majority in South African to liberate themselves and end Apartheid in South Africa.

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Apartheid in South Africa.

South Africa achieved majority rule late compared to other African countries. The country experienced foreign rule from 1652 to 1994 by the Dutch and the British after their arrival in 1652 and 1795 respectively.

From the time the Dutch established their settlement, the black population found themselves subjected to a new and horrible system of racial discrimination (Apartheid) on their own land until the 1990s, when they finally achieved majority rule.

During Apartheid, blacks were not allowed to share public services with whites, including education facilities, settlements, jobs, recreational centers, even intermarriage was banned.

Acts of oppression, dehumanization, harsh living conditions, unemployment, overcrowding, and poor social services were common to blacks.

Therefore, it became clear that white rule was unbearable and the only way out was freedom.

METHODS EMPLOYED BY THE BLACK MAJORITY IN SOUTH AFRICA TO END THE APARTHEID REGIME

1. Formation of political parties.

South African Native National Congress (S.A.N.N.C) was formed in 1912, later renamed the African National Congress (A.N.C) in 1935. 

Despite some political parties being banned, they played a fundamental role in awakening black South Africans about the evils of apartheid. 
ANC and PAC organized peaceful demonstrations against apartheid policies.

2. The use of mass peaceful demonstrations.

Demonstrations pressured the Boer government to grant majority rule in South Africa. 

Political activists, adults, and children came together to demand the abolition of apartheid policies. 

For example, the Sharpeville demonstration on 21st March 1960 protested pass laws, and the Soweto (South West Township) uprising on 16th June 1976 is historically recorded as a significant event. 

These demonstrations raised local and global awareness of the evils of apartheid.

3. The use of arts such as poems, novels, and songs.

For example, Lucky Dube launched his music album Together as One, which mobilized both blacks and whites in South Africa to come together as brothers and sisters. 

Bob Marley (Jamaican) and Miriam Makeba played distinguished roles in persuading the international community to intervene in South Africa. 

Novelists such as Peter Abrahams published the novel Mine Boy, which illustrated the evils experienced by blacks in the mines.

4. Underground organizations. 

Black radicals and political leaders mobilized their supporters to secretly join political parties and underground guerrilla movements to end the racist white regime in South Africa. 

For example, after the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe (“The Spear of the Nation”), many ANC young men joined the movement.

5. The use of mass media such as radio. 

For example, some A.N.C leaders in exile in Tanzania, in collaboration with the government of the United Republic of Tanzania, established Radio Freedom, which was heard in South Africa from Mazimbu, Morogoro. 

The radio programs aired mobilized black South Africans to firmly oppose the racist regime.

6. Religious forums. 

For example, the formation of the United Democratic Front (U.D.F.), a coalition of about 600 organizations led by Rev. Allan Boesak and Bishop Desmond Tutu, played a significant role in ending apartheid in South Africa.

7. Urging international organizations to impose sanctions against South Africa’s racist regime. 

Organization of African Unity (O.A.U.) on behalf of South Africans, pleaded with Western capitalist countries not to sell weapons to South Africa Apartheid government. 

South African Apartheid regime was also denied air-landing rights.


Conclusion

The road to ending apartheid in South Africa was long, painful, and filled with sacrifice.

Resilience, unity, and unwavering spirit of black majority, through protests, music, literature, international solidarity, and underground resistance, finally brought freedom and justice. 

Their struggle serves as a reminder that oppression can be overcome when people stand together for what is right. 




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