Doings of former wife of Nelson Mandela

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, former wife of Nelson Mandela, stands accused of murdering a boy who was allegedly a police informant. She established the Mandela United Football Club for protection and it is alleged she ordered this group to commit such acts as killings, torture and intimidation in the name of political cohesion. In 1991, Madikizela-Mandela and a former confidante, Xoliswa Falati, were convicted of kidnapping and assaulting four black youths, including the boy she is presently charged with killing. Falati has testified that Madikizela-Mandela was ordering killings as recent as 1992. · She was being tried before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The commission was set up in 1995 to investigate apartheid-era crimes and promote the healing of wounds left by apartheid. The commission has the powers to grant amnesty to those who committed human rights abuses and confess their deeds.

Changes in South Africa which are brought by the political system of her

· The political system of South Africa has made many changes as well. Representatives are still elected, but under the current system of government, the people play a role in the matters directly affecting their own lives. After years of living in the shadow of the Nationalist Party, the African National Congress has become the dominant political party. Kwazulu-Natal, the Inkhata Freedom Party, long an ally of the old South African government, retains local power. There continues to be violence between Inkhata and ANC supporters of President Mandela that has claimed hundreds of lives in the province.

Temporary Constitution was established in South Africa

In 1993, a temporary Constitution was established while a new, completed Constitution was being drafted. On May 8, 1996, the finalized Constitution of South Africa was ratified. It provides equal rights for all citizens of South Africa, making discrimination of any kind illegal. It broke from the apartheid-based system of government and established democracy as the ruling administration.

Current State of South Africa

· After nearly thirty years in prison on trumped up charges, Nelson Mandela was released on February 11, 1990. Mandela was the voice of the oppressed black Africans during the 40s, 50s and 60s. His stint in prison and refusal to back down from his fervent anti-apartheid stance strengthened and supported the hopes of the oppressed. Working with then-president F.W. de Klerk, Mandela helped bring an end to apartheid. South Africa held its first democratic election in 1994. Following the presidential election of Nelson Mandela, there occurred a shift from white- to black-dominated government. Unfortunately, this change has given rise to serious problems. This shift of governmental power has not yet resulted in significant lifestyle changes for most blacks in the country. The white population still primarily controls the economy. Affirmative action programs have not yet positively impacted the average black person. According to recent statistics, unemployment among the black population is 45% nationwide. The national crime rate is up with blacks being the most common victims. These statistics seem as if South Africa has not made any significant changes under this new "democratic government."

President of South Africa in 1989

F.W. de Klerk became the president of South Africa in 1989. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from jail, and he quickly gained supporters. His continual determination to end apartheid strengthened the movement even more. As a result, the government repealed the last laws supporting apartheid in 1991, allowing democracy to be ushered into the country slowly but surely.

People's Army formed to fight against government

In 1961, the ANC and the South African Communist Party formed a people's army to fight the government. In the 1970's, the liberation of surrounding countries provided hope for the struggling South Africans. In the 1980's, the ANC, along with oppressed black South Africans, entered into a complete revolution against the government. This revolution included political and religious struggles, trade activities, women's campaigns, school boycotts, revolts and military actions. Due to these struggles and the implementation of UN sanctions in 1977, the government of South Africa was significantly weakened, but did not fall. It was not until the late 1980's and early 1990's did apartheid come to an end. In 1986, the United States Congress decided to involve itself in the South African on-goings by encouraging peace and supporting negotiations between the South African government, the ANC and their affiliates. The U.S. Congress' hopes were that a democracy would be established in South Africa.

the Public Safety Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act

In 1953, the Public Safety Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act were passed, which empowered the government to declare stringent states of emergency and increased penalties for protesting against or supporting the repeal of a law. The penalties included fines, imprisonment and whippings. In 1960, a large group of blacks in Sharpsville refused to carry their passes. Therefore, the government declared a state of emergency. The emergency lasted for 156 days, leaving 69 people dead and 187 people wounded. Wielding the Public Safety Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act, the white regime had no intention of changing the unjust laws of apartheid.

Ethnic government in African reserves basis established in 1951

In 1951, the Bantu Authorities Act established a basis for ethnic government in African reserves, known as ``homelands.'' These homelands were independent states to which each African was assigned by the government according to the record of origin. All political rights, including voting, held by an African were restricted to the designated homeland. From 1976 to 1981, four of these homelands were created, denationalizing nine million South Africans. The homeland administrations refused the nominal independence, maintaining pressure for political rights within the country as a whole. Nevertheless, Africans living in the homelands needed passports to enter South Africa.

What happened after the apartheid laws are enforced?

With the enactment of apartheid laws in 1948, racial discrimination was institutionalized. Race laws touched every aspect of social life, including a prohibition of marriage between non-whites and whites, and the sanctioning of ``white-only'' jobs. In 1950, the Population Registration Act required that all South Africans be racially classified into one of three categories: white, black or colored. The coloured category included major subgroups of Indians and Asians. Classification into these categories was based on appearance, social acceptance, and descent.

How did apartheid came about, whats the main aim?

Strategists in the National Party invented apartheid as a means to cement their control over the economic and social system. Initially, aim of the apartheid was to maintain white domination while extending racial separation.

The 17th centery....

South Africa was colonized by the English and Dutch in the seventeenth century. The discovery of diamonds in these lands around 1900 resulted in an English invasion which sparked the Boer War. Following independence from England, an uneasy power-sharing between the two groups held sway until the 1940's, when the Afrikaner National Party was able to gain a strong majority.

Mines of South Africa....

South African mines are world leaders in the production of diamonds and gold as well as strategic metals, and the climate is mild.

South Africa's first democratic election

On May 10, year 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected South Africa's first black President, in that country's first truly democratic election.

Nelson Mandela

In 1990, Nelson Mandela, who had devoted his life to democracy, equality and learning for all South Africans, was released from prison after serving almost 30 years for those beliefs. He was then elected as the president of the African National Congress the following year, which is in year 1991. Mr Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of all South Africans who suffered and sacrificed so much to bring peace to their country

1982 in South Africa

In 1982, almost one million black So, ultimately, Blacks demonstrated, held strikes and rioted over such discriminatory practices. As a result diplomatic pressure mounted abroad for change. uth Africans were transferred to another country without their having any say in the matter.

What happened in South Africa in 1976?

In 1976, the United Nations unanimously condemned the elevation of one of the "homelands" of the blacks, Transkei, into an independent State because it remained dependent on South Africa. Not even one country in the world recognized the new State.

What is Aparthied?

It is a racism made law and a system dictated in the minutest detail as to how and where the large black majority would live, work and die. This system of institutionalized racial discrimination defied the principles of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

What does Apartheid consist of?

It consisted of numerous laws that allowed the ruling white minority in South Africa to segregate, exploit and terrorize the vast majority: mostly Africans, Asians and people of mixed race as well.