Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to discuss the reason for the success of apartheid in 1948-1991. This house believes that the sole reason were the security forces.

The security forces prevented the success of black resistance. In 1952 during the Defiance Campaign 3,000 people were arrested. The police responded to the peaceful protest with violence, heavy fines and jail sentences were imposed. The security forces made the ANC call off the campaign.

In 1955 anti pass law demonstrations took place, led by Albertina Sisulu. She was arrested by the police and held in prison under the 90-day law. This weakened the resistance; Sisulu’s wife was now out of action.

During the Treason Trial in 1956, 156 people were arrested and charged for participating in attacks against the government. Most of the ANC leaders, including Mandela and Sisulu were on trial and out of action for 5 years. This seriously weakened the opposition.

In 1960 PAC called for a more forceful protest. A large crowd gathered outside the police station in Sharpeville. 300 demonstrators participated in the protest against the pass laws and threw stones at the police. The South African police opened fire on the people, 69 were killed and approximately 180 were injured.

During the Soweto riots more than 700 blacks died, killed by the security forces. The police arrested 6,000 people. Riot police allowed groups of migrants to come into the houses and beat the blacks up until they were half dead. The police used violence in response to violence, which was the only way to stop the riots.

Steve Biko’s death in 1977 proved that violence from the security forces was the only way to keep the apartheid going. He was already banned, but still kept on writing, publishing, sharing information and opposing the government in every way. In 1977 he was killed in prison.

I believe