Evaluate the contribution of township unrest in the 1980s to the end of the apartheid system.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the contribution of township unrest to the end of the apartheid system, weighing up its strengths and limitations as a factor. Candidates may refer to the immediate response to township unrest of the government. President P W Botha declared a state of emergency and announced the creation of a multi-racial tricameral parliament, which, it may be argued, was a first step towards reform of the system. Candidates may also evaluate the general sense of crisis which now pervaded the apartheid system, or to the damage inflicted by the unrest on an already beleaguered economy. They may argue that unrest contributed to the emergence of new political actors, such as the United Democratic Front and COSATU. In the absence of the banned ANC, these groups provided a focus for further resistance and helped draw international attention to apartheid. Other factors may be evaluated, for example, the global economic boycott of South Africa, or debates for reform within the ruling National Party, but with a focus on the issue in the question. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

This question on township unrest was very popular and produced wide range of quality in the responses. One issue was a failure by weaker candidates to note the required timeframe. They digressed into other periods and lost focus on the demands of the question. There was a lot of description in many responses which showed some knowledge but failed to create an effective analysis. A narrow focus on township unrest meant that candidates did not demonstrate knowledge of other factors at the time which would have created an effective evaluation of its importance.