Reflections on the South African Revolution: A Discussion Between Martin Plaut and Jeremy Seeking
Author(s)
Plaut, Martin; Seeking, Jeremy
Abstract
A move from minority regime to a democratic multiracial government caught almost everyone by surprise in South Africa. The authors discuss the reasons why the African National Congress (ANC) gathered strength after the Soweto uprising of 1976 and how the United Democratic Front (UDF), founded in 1983, was able to take advantage of the government’s relaxation of its repressive action from the middle of 1983 to the end of 1984 in order to build up its national structures, national coordination, and national profile. The outstanding factor was the ANC’s resilience. It had become almost powerless by the mid-1970’s and yet was able to make a remarkable recovery in the 1980’s and 1990’s, largely thanks to its constructive cooperation with the UDF.
