South Africa Essay Research Paper Police In

In the early 1980s the South African president P. W. Botha started to initiate a process of the South African political system. President Botha legalized for example black trade unions, established mixed trading zones, granted citizenship to urban blacks etc, but P.W. Botha did not go all the way and still did not allowed in the house of parliament blacks. President Botha did not want and had no intentions of totally change the political system. His reforms were more designed to improve and moderate and make the existing system more acceptable. But he had no intention at all to end white power.

President Botha’s reforms had to opposite effect, and intensified demands from South African blacks for their full incorporation into the political system. This led to several uprising in black townships that had hoped the collapse of the Afrikaner dominated regime was imminent. The government had to suppress black people and crushed their dreams one more time. This uprising had one major impact; it lead to international attention and both the United States and the European government intensified their economic sanctions against South Africa.

In 1989 when F.W. de Klerk and he replaced P.W. Botha as a president, he started more extensive reforms to incorporate blacks in the political system, and emphasized the importance of negotiations instead of the use of violence as Botha. In 1990 the African National Congress was unbanned, imprisoned political leaders were freed, and exiles were allowed to return to the country.

Conclusion

Before the “revolution” of 1994 people in South Africa tended to cluster in large urban centers that were unable to provide critical public service such as medical care, law enforcement, electrical utilities, and sanitation. Once the population in South Africa realized that they no longer had to live in the poverty of the past, that change was possible, and the people could create a better life through their own efforts, their dissatisfaction grew.

South African black’s and other minority groups expected too much when Nelson Mandela become president; many of the conditions of before 1994 still today has not changed and that has lead to mass frustration, social unrest and political upheaval, which only further diminished the prospect for economic growth.

South Africa and Africa as a continent has a major obstacle to overcome when it comes to fighting AIDS. The disease now ranks fourth among the worlds big killers. For Africa to have a chance a clear leadership is required. Most African government has been slow to recognize the threat.

There can be good governance in South Africa if the Mbeki administration is prepared to bring courage and determination into the office of the presidency. As it stands today ANC’s member of parliament are not even encouraged to critize their own ministers. There is very little accountability. There is a blurring line between the relationship of civil society and party politics; often they are the same standing on ANC side.

Is hard for NGOs to be independent since the in most cases receive government funding. Today many NGOs compete for government contract and are following the official line. One of the most important elements in promoting greater accountability is the role played by NGOs, civic society and think tanks. The NGOs and the civic organizations needs to distance itself from the ANC, otherwise how can they be really representing the real needs of the poor clearly?

? Job creation seen as the most important problem by 72 % black South Africans and 60 % of colored community.

? Criminal concerns 80 % of white and 90 % of Indian communities.

? According to national polls, 41 % are satisfied with democracy, 59 % are unsatisfied.

? Question: What if democracy does not work.

? 47 % consider democracy to be always best, 43% favored a strong non- elected leader, 10 % did not know.

? 1997 50 5 of voters believed that officials in government department were corrupt.

(After Mandela, The 1999 South African Elections, pg 54)