THE TRANSFORMATION OF BLACK SCHOOL …

1 THE TRANSFORMATION OF BLACK SCHOOL education IN SOUTH AFRICA, 1950-1994: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Thesis by Mafu Solomon Rakometsi (Magister Artium) submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree PHILOSOPHIAE DOCTOR in the Faculty of Humanities (Department of History) at the University of the Free State BLOEMFONTEIN Promoter: Prof. Barnard Co-Promoter: Prof. de Wet Bloemfontein November 2008 ii DECLARATION I, Mafu Solomon Rakometsi, affirm that the thesis, The TRANSFORMATION of BLACK SCHOOL education in South Africa, 1950-1994.

2 A historical perspective, for the degree of PhD in the Department of History, at the University of the Free State, hereby submitted, has not previously been submitted by me for a degree at this or any other university, and that it is my own work in design and execution, and that all the material contained herein is recognised. I furthermore cede copyright of the thesis in favour of the University of the Free State. Signature : .. Date : .. Place : .. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ii vii Chapter 1 1 Chapter 2 education under apartheid.

3 The reaction of the South African population to apartheid legislation, 1948 to 1960 11 The National Party election victory and control of 12 The CNE and the laws affecting BLACK 27 The Eiselen Commission on BLACK education and its 46 Bantu education and reaction to its 59 Resistance to Bantu 81 103 Chapter 3 The homeland system and the extension of apartheid legislation to Coloured and Indian education 107 Political developments in South African in the early 108 The Tomlinson Commission and the homeland 113 Bantu education for a Bantu economy and the migrant labour 129 Evaluation of the impact of the Bantu education

4 141 The education of the Coloureds and 154 Combating subversion among Blacks and the medium of instruction in Post-Primary 165 168 Chapter 4 The 1976 Soweto learners uprising, its aftermath and the granting of independence to homelands (1975-1979) 171 Background to the 1976 Soweto learners 171 The learners uprising of 16 June 179 The granting of independence to 240 265 Chapter 5 The period of mass democratic movement and education TRANSFORMATION (1980-1993) 269 The formation of national learner bodies, calls for reforms in education for Blacks and the 1980 SCHOOL 270 The De Lange Commission of Enquiry into 291 The 1983 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the formation of extra-parliamentary 298 Calls for liberation first, and education later and the deepening crisis in 311 The government counteroffensive strategy against opponents of 319 The National education Crisis Committee and People s education .

5 325 344 vChapter 6 The last vestiges of apartheid and segregated education 348 Corporate intervention in education and training and sanctions against South Africa .. 350 In search of teacher 365 The introduction of democratic political reforms in South 391 Pressures facing education in the run up to 406 Key principles and values underpinning education in the democratic South 416 422 Chapter 7 Final 425 Appendices Appendix 1 BLACK learners enrolled in Bantu education schools from 1953 to 447 Appendix 2 Bantu education Matriculation pass rates from 1953 to 448 Appendix 3 Drop-out rate in BLACK schools illustrated by

6 The 1962 learner 449 Appendix 4 Inscriptions at the Hector Peterson Memorial 450 Appendix 5 Per capita expenditure for different population groups in education from 1953 to 452 Appendix 6 Resolutions taken at the First National Consultative Conference on the crisis in 453 Appendix 7 Resolutions taken at the Second National Consultative Conference on the crisis in 460 viAppendix 8 Recognised teacher organisations and progressive teacher organisations (and their affiliates).

7 467 Appendix 9 Guidelines of the National Teacher Unity Forum (1988).. 469 Appendix 10 1990 SADTU Congress 471 Source 478 532 535 538 viiFOREWORD This study explores the TRANSFORMATION of BLACK SCHOOL education in South Africa from 1950 to 1994. The study examines the events that necessitated the TRANSFORMATION of the political landscape, which in turn led to the post-apartheid process of social and political change to establish democracy and social equality. In the context of this study a penetrating investigation of the events that necessitated TRANSFORMATION will be examined in order to lay the foundation for a proper understanding of the pressures for TRANSFORMATION .

8 The research and historical assessment of the TRANSFORMATION of BLACK SCHOOL education in South Africa became necessary due to the fact that limited research has been conducted on this TRANSFORMATION process. Although social scientists and historians alike have written much on issues linked to the TRANSFORMATION of education in South Africa, a methodical, systematic analysis of the developments leading up to the TRANSFORMATION of education in South Africa from a historical and education perspective has thus far not yet been undertaken. A historical education viewpoint of the central theme of the TRANSFORMATION of education in South Africa, laying the foundation with the developments of the 1950s and 1960s, is crucial to the understanding of TRANSFORMATION in the decades to follow up to 1994.

9 The TRANSFORMATION of education can only be fully analysed and assessed by evaluating the reaction of the South African population and major role players to apartheid education legislation. An in-depth study of the changes introduced in the education arena in the 1950s and 1960s, the historical impact of the changes and the response of the South African population as a whole need to be described, analysed and assessed. The study covers the period 1950 to 1994. The 1948 election results led to the ascension of the National Party to power with its apartheid policy of government. In 1953 the National Party government introduced The Bantu education Act.

10 The ensuing years witnessed efforts by major South African role players either to endorse or to oppose the viiiParty s approach to BLACK education . This study intends to explore the different calls for change and reform on the one hand and political repression on the other. The political impact of the resistance mounted by different groupings from 1976 through the 1980s, up to 1994 will be explored. This study focuses on the continual interplay between action and reaction that evolved between the major role players during the apartheid years. It attempts to explain how these actions and interactions interlocked to forge a political environment that paved the way for the TRANSFORMATION of BLACK SCHOOL education .