South Africa's referendum on apartheid

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 22 April 2024

⏱️ 11 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On 18 March 1992, white South Africans overwhelmingly backed a mandate for political reforms to end apartheid and create a power-sharing multi-racial government.

It was a high-stakes referendum coming on the back of three by-elections where the ruling National Party had lost to the right wing Conservative party.

In a speech after the polling victory, President FW de Klerk said: “Today we have closed the book on apartheid”. His communications adviser, David Steward speaks to Josephine McDermott.

(Photo: President FW de Klerk with news of the referendum win. Credit: AP)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Just before this BBC podcast gets underway, here's something you may not know.
0:04.7	My name's Linda Davies and I Commission Podcasts for BBC Sounds.
0:08.5	As you'd expect, at the BBC we make podcasts of the very highest quality featuring the most knowledgeable experts and genuinely engaging voices.
0:18.0	What you may not know is that the BBC makes podcasts about all kinds of things like pop stars,
0:24.6	poltergeist, cricket, and conspiracy theories and that's just a few examples.
0:29.7	If you'd like to discover something a little bit unexpected, find your next podcast from the BBC World Service with me Josephine McDermott.
0:47.0	32 years ago South Africa held a referendum which paved the way to end apartheid.
0:54.0	Some of the language you'll hear reflects the attitudes of the time.
0:57.0	Don't look around, I'm talking to you.
1:00.0	Did you vote yes today?
1:02.0	What am I the guy next to you? Yes today?
1:03.0	What am I the guy next to you?
1:05.0	Well, what's his excuse?
1:07.0	If friends or colleagues have forgotten that the referendum is on today,
1:11.0	please remind them to vote yes.
1:13.7	It's the 17th of March 1992 and subtlety is out of the window.
1:18.9	President F. W. de clerk is asking white South Africans to vote yes, to continuing the work he has started
1:25.8	to end apartheid.
1:26.8	The newspapers and radio were filled with advertisements.
1:31.3	Streets were filled with advertisements by the two different factions.
1:35.0	To get back into big-time business, vote yes on my...
1:39.0	Decide on your future and that of South Africa.
	...

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