Essay On Violence In South Africa

Introduction:

Nelson Mandela had said, “South Africa is a country traumatised by centuries of violence and the most brutal exploitation.” Violence in South Africa during the transition phase (1990-1994) can be explained as the physical force that was intended to injure or kill a person or group of people. South Africa had a history of violence, but this was aggravated during the transition from Apartheid to democracy. This was because the negotiations of reform had just begun and many of South Africa’s citizens were concerned and critical of what South Africa’s future would be like. Violence was also increased between the African National Congress (ANC) supporters and Inkatha supporters and there was an increase in violence in the townships

Just before the multi-party negotiations could resume in April 1993, violence once again took place that greatly affected the negotiations and the CODESA talks. On the 10th of April 1993, Chris Hani, an important leader of the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP), was murdered outside of his home. The gun that was used to assassinate Chris Hani was provided by a member of the conservative party. This had greatly added to the racial tensions in the country and this made black South African’s and ANC members even more critical of the white government and this impacted the negotiations greatly. Nelson Mandela had to give a speech on Chris Hani’s to keep the peace as many people feared a civil war after the death of Chris Hani (source 2) as he persuaded the militant ANC youth to be accepting of the negotiations so after his death the ANC youth were more critical of the negotiations and this led to more township violence which in turn, affected the negotiations and the CODESA talks even more. Due to Chris Hani’s death, there a massive mobilisation in April 1993 which ultimately led to the national commitment to there being a democratic election date in April 1994. (Source