hsy3705
Table of contents
1 Total strategy, total onslaught – 1979
2 Botha’s statement of ‘adapt or die’ – 1979
3 Tricameral constitution – 1983
4 ‘Rubicon speech’ – 1985
5 Pass laws – 1986
6 Bibliography
7 Plagiarism statement
1: Total strategy, total onslaught – 1979
The P.W. Botha era was an era of undeniable changes. It was the first time since the ‘’purified’’ National Party that South Africa as a whole saw any glimmer of hope and change occurring. August of 1979 P.W.
Botha adopted a two-handed strategy to reform accompanied and unprecedented restraint, meaning that there would be reform between
Whites, Coloureds and Indians and continuous communication with
Black people would occur. His ‘total strategy’ was designed to meet the ‘total onslaught’1 which became central to his strategy of maintaining white power. In order to gain the support of Western governments2 and to counteract the ‘total onslaught’ occurring inside and outside of South African borders, the ‘‘total strategy’s’’ main aim was to cover all aspects of security, military, political, economic and religious issues. This was a huge step up from the previous all
Afrikaner/White government as the rights of all population groups would be recognised.
2: Botha’s statement of ‘adapt or die’ – 1979
Before P.W. Botha became the new prime minister after Vorster, his position in government was Minister of Defence, he however maintained this position whilst being prime minister and had exclusive control over South Africa’s department of National
Intelligence3. Botha’s statement ‘adapt or die’ or ‘we are moving into a changing world, we must adapt otherwise we shall die’ was part of his speech on accepting prime minister. This statement was directed at the unification of all South Africans against the ‘total onslaught’ against the country4, (and gave the impression that change was on the way, a good change for all South Africans), from South Africa’s enemies in their neighbouring
1 Total strategy, total onslaught – 1979
2 Botha’s statement of ‘adapt or die’ – 1979
3 Tricameral constitution – 1983
4 ‘Rubicon speech’ – 1985
5 Pass laws – 1986
6 Bibliography
7 Plagiarism statement
1: Total strategy, total onslaught – 1979
The P.W. Botha era was an era of undeniable changes. It was the first time since the ‘’purified’’ National Party that South Africa as a whole saw any glimmer of hope and change occurring. August of 1979 P.W.
Botha adopted a two-handed strategy to reform accompanied and unprecedented restraint, meaning that there would be reform between
Whites, Coloureds and Indians and continuous communication with
Black people would occur. His ‘total strategy’ was designed to meet the ‘total onslaught’1 which became central to his strategy of maintaining white power. In order to gain the support of Western governments2 and to counteract the ‘total onslaught’ occurring inside and outside of South African borders, the ‘‘total strategy’s’’ main aim was to cover all aspects of security, military, political, economic and religious issues. This was a huge step up from the previous all
Afrikaner/White government as the rights of all population groups would be recognised.
2: Botha’s statement of ‘adapt or die’ – 1979
Before P.W. Botha became the new prime minister after Vorster, his position in government was Minister of Defence, he however maintained this position whilst being prime minister and had exclusive control over South Africa’s department of National
Intelligence3. Botha’s statement ‘adapt or die’ or ‘we are moving into a changing world, we must adapt otherwise we shall die’ was part of his speech on accepting prime minister. This statement was directed at the unification of all South Africans against the ‘total onslaught’ against the country4, (and gave the impression that change was on the way, a good change for all South Africans), from South Africa’s enemies in their neighbouring
Bibliography: www.apartheidmuseum.org www.sahistory.org.za [accessed 01 August 2013] Study guide for HSY3705 (Pretoria: Unisa, 2010)