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Laws and methods used by the National Party to enforce its policies and…
Laws and methods used by the National Party to enforce its policies and suppress opposition
Ban on communism (Suppression of Communism Act, of 1950)
A National Party (NP) policy that banned the Communist Party (CP) and "made it an offence to promote communist ideals"
It also gave the government the power to use "restriction order" and house arrests in order to
silence the opposition
In this way, political participation from different parties (mainly those securing the rights of non-whites) was practically inexistent
11 out of 27 executive members of the ANC were restrictions
As communism was defined very broadly, there were negative impacts on the freedom of the press, as many newspapers were banned on the grounds of "promoting communist ideology"
1956: Closure of the USSR Consulate in Pretoria
Accused of having links with non-white leaders (ANC, for example) which were banned. Hence, its image deteriorated and it was accused of 'inciting revolution and spreading communist propaganda'
Destroy and forced decadence over specific cities
Sophiatown, a city where the CP had strong influence, was destroyed by the government
Weakening of labour movements
Native Labour (Settlement of Disputes) Act of 1953
Weakening of African unions, as it was illegal now to recognise African trade unions and negotiate w/ them
Criminal Law Amendment Act (1953)
Prison and/or fines to people who broke the law w/ protesting and in support of any campaign against the law
Public Safety Act (1953)
Gave the state power to declare 'emergency situations' and use harsh measures to suppress opposition
Including detention without trial
The role of the police and the army: allowed to use violence in order to protect the political interests from the NP
Pondoland Revolt (1960): widespread campaign where peasants refused to pay taxes and killed pro-NP loca governing members. 5000 thousand protesters were arrested