State of Emergency in South Africa - July 20, 1985

On July 20, 1985, the government of South Africa declared a State of Emergency, extending it to 36 magisterial districts across the country. This significant action was part of a broader strategy by the apartheid regime under President P.W. Botha to quell increasing unrest and resistance against apartheid policies.

Context Leading to the Declaration

The mid-1980s were marked by intense internal conflict and civil unrest in South Africa, largely driven by the struggle against the institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination of apartheid. The African National Congress (ANC), the United Democratic Front (UDF), and other anti-apartheid movements were gaining momentum, organizing protests, strikes, and demonstrations across the country.

The government’s response was increasingly aggressive and repressive, involving arrests, detentions without trial, and widespread censorship. The violence from both protesters and state forces had escalated into what many considered a low-intensity civil war, particularly in the black townships, the epicenters of resistance.

Key Elements of the State of Emergency

1. Increased Military and Police Powers: The declaration empowered South African military and police forces with extensive powers to detain individuals without trial, ban meetings, and impose strict curfews. These measures aimed to suppress organized resistance and restore what the government considered public order.

2. Censorship and Control: The government imposed severe restrictions on media coverage. Journalists faced the risk of detention if they reported actions deemed unacceptable by the state, leading to a heavily censored media environment that restricted the free flow of information about the true conditions and state-led violence in the country.

3. Widespread Arrests: Thousands of activists, leaders of anti-apartheid movements, and ordinary citizens were detained under the emergency regulations. These detentions often occurred without formal charges and were part of an effort to dismantle opposition networks.

Aftermath and Historical Significance

The 1985 State of Emergency marked a turning point in the struggle against apartheid, highlighting the depth of the crisis facing the South African government. International attention and condemnation of South Africa’s apartheid policies grew, with increased calls for sanctions and isolation of the apartheid regime.

Although the State of Emergency managed to stifle some levels of resistance temporarily, it also emboldened the anti-apartheid movement by drawing global attention to their cause and illustrating the brutality of the apartheid regime. Activist pressure, coupled with international sanctions and diplomatic efforts, would eventually contribute to the dismantling of apartheid, leading to the country’s first multiracial elections in 1994.

This period is remembered as a critical moment in South African history, underscoring both the resilience of its people and the eventual triumph over one of the 20th century’s most oppressive and racially discriminatory systems.