Special Report Transcript Episode 16, Section 2, Time 09:32

Black resistance in South Africa during these years were partly inspired by the spread of ‘uhuru’ in the rest of colonial Africa. By the mid-sixties many African countries had cast off the colonialist yoke and became independent states. // The PAC organised a massive protest against the pass laws on 21 March 1960. In Sharpeville police killed 69 demonstrators. // This event rocked the country and focused international attention on South Africa. // It also marked the start of its isolation. The government responded to the outcry by declaring a state of emergency and passing legislation banning the ANC and the PAC. After much debate and agonizing the ANC decided to change strategies to include limited armed action. // ‘There are many people who feel that it is useless and futile for us to continue talking peace and non-violence against a government whose reply is only savage attacks on an unarmed and defenceless people’ // The PAC formed Poqo and the ANC created Umkhonto we Sizwe, the Spear of the Nation. Leadership went underground. But the National Party had these fledgling liberation armies outmanned and outgunned. // Nelson Mandela was arrested on August 5 1962. Not long after the rest of the ANC leadership was arrested at Lilliesleaf farm in Rivonia. All were sentenced to life imprisonment. The ANC and PAC leadership were now in exile or in jail. // It would be another decade before the monolith of apartheid began to crack. // ‘Op 31 Mei 1966 is die land opnuut geklee in ‘n fees gewaad. Die herwonne vryheid is nou 5 year oud, ‘n vryheid wat nie sonder moeite verwerf is nie. [31 May 1966. The country is once more in a festive mood. The reclamation of our freedom, now 5 years old, was not acquired without effort]. // ‘This land has indeed been acquired by blood and sweat and tears. All shall not be in vain. The spirit of tenacity of our forefathers is still ours. We are a proud nation. Our young men and women will be in the vanguard of any struggle for existence the future may bring. We have no fear. We love South Africa. This is our land of hope and glory. We shall not fail her or any of those who depend upon us. Be of good cheer, the will to win through is there. We could not do otherwise. We have no other country, no other home. Here we shall stay whatever the cost.’

Notes: Banner ‘Watch out oppressor Africa will trample you underfoot’; The Star: ‘Police open fire under hail of stones’; Footage: Sharpeville, international support, International demonstrations: ‘Boycott SA’ banners. The Star headline: ‘Nats rush bill for power to ban ANC’ ; Nelson Mandela; Newspaper headline: ‘Can the ANC hit back?’; The Star: ‘Saboteurs blow up reef pylon’; Footage: Mandela’s arrest. The Star: ‘Mandela and Sisulu guilty on all charges’; Robben Island; SABC documentary 1981; 1966 Republic celebrations ‘five years of freedom’ ; Verwoerd