| Date | November 2020 | Marks available | 3 | Reference code | 20N.1.BP.TZ0.13 |
| Level | Both SL and HL | Paper | Paper 1 - first exams 2017 | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | What | Question number | 13 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Source M Robert M Price, a professor of politics, writing in the academic book The Apartheid State in Crisis: Political Transformation in South Africa, 1975–1990 (1991).
On March 21, 1960 in the black township of Sharpeville … peaceful demonstrators, for the most part African women, were attacked by police, who shot and killed 69 and wounded another 178 … Images of the Sharpeville massacre alerted international attention to the apartheid system, and to the state’s efforts to suppress and silence opponents of racial separation. Pretoria found itself diplomatically isolated and faced with threats to its security and economic growth. International investment, which had played a considerable part in South Africa’s development, took flight.
It was in this context of international isolation and hostility that Prime Minister Verwoerd introduced his plan for the eventual partition of South African territory into ten independent African states, and “white” South Africa … Ten Bantustans would be created out of the 13 % of South Africa’s land area. Some economic developments and limited powers of internal self-government were intended for these new entities, which were seen as the future home of Africans who would be removed from “white South Africa” … A combination of ruthless repression and apartheid measures served to crush all organized manifestations of black political and economic power.
[Source: Price, R.M., 1991.The Apartheid State in Crisis Political Transformation in South Africa, 1975–1990 Copyright
© 1991 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Reproduced with permission of the Licensor through PLSclear.]
Source N A map of South Africa showing the location of the Bantustans.
[Credit: South Africa: Overcoming Apartheid Building Democracy, Homelands (Bantustans):
https://overcomingapartheid.msu.edu/image.php?kid=163-577-305.]
What, according to Source M, were the reasons for the establishment of the Bantustan system?
What does Source N suggest about the distribution of the Bantustans?
Markscheme
- To respond to a situation of international isolation and hostility.
- To achieve internal security by crushing black opposition.
- To separate black Africans from “white” South Africa.
- To respond to economic concerns.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. It is neither prescriptive nor exhaustive and no set answer is required. Award [1] for each relevant point up to a maximum of [3].
- The Bantustans comprised only a small proportion of South Africa’s total land area.
- The Bantustans were fragmented.
- The Bantustans were predominantly in the northern and eastern parts of South Africa.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. It is neither prescriptive nor exhaustive and no set answer is required. Award [1] for each relevant point up to a maximum of [2].
Examiners report
Many candidates succeeded in identifying three valid points from the source. However, as seen in previous sessions, a few candidates rolled points together, or repeated the same point more than once. There were also cases where the response lacked clarity, or where only one or two distinct points were offered. It is important to remind candidates that three separate points are required for full marks and these should be derived from the content of the source rather than background knowledge.
Most candidates offered at least one clear point regarding what the visual source revealed, with many able to identify two valid points. It was pleasing to encounter responses that explored the different elements of the source, for example the ironic nature of the cartoon in Source J in PS3. Nevertheless, a proportion of candidates gave only one developed point. Candidates should be guided to look for different elements and dynamics in the visual sources.
