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The assignment focuses on South Africa's transition from apartheid to democracy, examining the negotiated settlement and its evolving narrative over time. It requires an analysis of the local and international context, the role of violence, key negotiating points for both the ANC and NP, and the outcomes of the negotiations. Students are expected to integrate primary and secondary sources to address these questions in a structured essay of 1,500 to 2,500 words, with a submission deadline of October 15, 2024.

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2 views

Assignment question (7)

The assignment focuses on South Africa's transition from apartheid to democracy, examining the negotiated settlement and its evolving narrative over time. It requires an analysis of the local and international context, the role of violence, key negotiating points for both the ANC and NP, and the outcomes of the negotiations. Students are expected to integrate primary and secondary sources to address these questions in a structured essay of 1,500 to 2,500 words, with a submission deadline of October 15, 2024.

Uploaded by

naledihope96
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GES 220 RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

South Africa’s negotiated settlement

The years directly following South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy were marked by a
general euphoria and the idealization of the rainbow nation. However, by the 2000s, the narrative
around South Africa’s transition began to shift. In official commemorations, there was less emphasis
on the negotiated settlement, and more focus on the ANC’s victory over apartheid.
After Nelson Mandela’s death in 2013 and the countrywide student protests of 2015 and
2016, the narrative took another turn. Given South Africa’s persistent socio-economic inequalities,
Mandela was accused of having been a sell-out: it was argued that negotiations with the NP
government had deprived the ANC of an outright victory and safeguarded white socio-economic
power.
On the other side of the political spectrum, many whites have branded FW de Klerk as a
traitor for surrendering the country to the ANC, while prominent white commentators have accused
the NP-negotiators of having been outwitted by Cyril Ramaphosa, thereby conceding Afrikaners’
language and cultural rights.

Given these ongoing debates and differing interpretations around the negotiated settlement, it is
important to examine the historical record and the context in which the negotiations took place. Use
the three prescribed readings and recorded interview to address the following questions in an essay
of approximately 1 500 – 2 500 words:

- Describe the local and international context, the armed struggle and the apartheid
government’s military position. Was there a need to negotiate?
- What role did violence play in shaping the climate in which the negotiations took place?
- What were the key negotiating points for the ANC?
- What were the key negotiating points for the NP?
- What caused breakdowns in the negotiations and how were the deadlocks broken to bring
the negotiations back on track?
- Which concessions were made, and which concessions were secured by each party?
- Did either side emerge as a clear winner?

Primary source (compulsory):

- Recorded interview with Mr. Roelf Meyer, National Party chief negotiator, 1992-1994.

Secondary sources: (it is compulsory that you use and integrate all of these):

- Leonard Thompson, A History of South Africa (New Haven and London: Yale University Press,
2001) pp. 241-264, in the GES 220 Reader.
- Thula Simpson, “Negotiated revolution in South Africa” in Omar Ashour (ed.), Bullets to
Ballots: Collective De-Radicalisation of Armed Movements (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University
Press, 2021), pp. 238-264.
- David Welsh, The Rise and Fall of Apartheid (Johannesburg and Cape Town: Jonathan Ball
Publishers, 2009), pp. 449-480.

Wider reading (not compulsory):

- David Welsh, The Rise and Fall of Apartheid (Johannesburg and Cape Town: Jonathan Ball
Publishers, 2009), pp. 421-534.

- T. Dunbar Moodie, ““Cyril’s eyes lit up.” Roelf Meyer, Francois Venter, the Afrikaner
Broederbond and the decision to abandon "group rights" in favour of a "regstaat" (constitutional
state)”, Seminar paper presented at University of the Witwatersrand, 7 May 2012.
https://wiser.wits.ac.za/content/%E2%80%9Ccyril%E2%80%99s-eyes-lit-up%E2%80%9D-roelf-
meyer-francois-venter-afrikaner-broederbond-and-decision-abandon

While it is not compulsory, you will be given bonus marks if you make effective use of primary
sources drawn from the Padraig O’Malley online-archive:

https://omalley.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/site/q/03lv00000.htm

You may use as much material from this archive as you like. Key texts that you are encouraged to
consult, are:

- “Memorandum from Nelson Mandela to F. W. de Klerk 26 June 1992”


https://omalley.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/site/q/
03lv02039/04lv02046/05lv02092/06lv02093.htm

- “Record of Understanding 26 September 1992”


https://omalley.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/site/q/
03lv02039/04lv02046/05lv02092/06lv02096.htm

Essay guidelines:
- Essays are to be submitted via Turnitin.
- 1 500 – 2 500 words.
- Ensure that your essay has a cover page, stating the title of your essay, your name and
student number.
- Ensure that your essay has a clear introduction, body and conclusion.
- Use either the Harvard or Chicago referencing method – consistency is key, and take note of
the guidelines and correct format.
- DO NOT make use of AI in writing this essay.
- Plagiarism and AI use will lead to disciplinary action.
- Feel free to consult with the tutors in formulating and constructing your essay.

DATE OF SUBMISSION
15 October 2024

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