United Democratic Front (South Africa)
The United Democratic Front ( UDF short; German: " United Democratic Front " ) was in the 1980s, the most important legal, extra-parliamentary opposition alliance in South Africa.
History
When the Botha government carried out the planned since 1977 constitutional reform by referendum in November 1983 under the white population, thus creating a three-chamber system in Parliament was connected. In this way, a structural exclusion cemented in the black population in the process of political participation. Instead privileged to the "white" supremacy and took the Indian population and the Coloureds by their own chambers with marginal participation rights in the legislative process. In contrast, stirred in her country resistance, which expressed itself in the form of election boycotts and protests and led in due establishing the UDF.
In January 1983, for the first time explained the Pastor Allan Boesak, the structure of a possible broad opposition alliance, which included, among other church groups, women's rights groups and trade unions. In the following months, regional committees were established in three of the four former provinces - without the Orange Free State - and prepared the foundation of the UDF. The UDF was finally established on 20 August 1983 as a non- racial bound coalition of about 400 organizations. The first goal was to fight the so introduced three-chamber system of Parliament. The slogan of the UDF was ( " UDF unites, apartheid separates " ) UDF Unites, Apartheid Divides.
In 1985, the UDF had about three million members. In addition to Boesak included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Albertina Sisulu and Helen Joseph. Activities included Mietboykotte, student protests, strikes and boycotts of the three-chamber system. Individual organizations within the UDF were the action against conscription for white males near (End Conscription Campaign ). 1987, at the height of its influence, the UDF had about 700 member organizations.
In the Delmas Treason Trial ( " treason trial of Delmas " ) were also indicted several UDF members how Albertina Sisulu. They were convicted but later acquitted.
Relations with other opposition groups
The UDF took part, the role of the banned African National Congress ( ANC). So she took among other things, supported by the ANC Freedom Charter ( " Freedom Charter " ) as a guideline. She sat down for the release of imprisoned ANC politicians. The UDF, however, was never formally linked to the ANC and did not take part in the armed resistance, in contrast to the ANC. With the legalization of the ANC in 1990, the UDF lost rapidly in importance.
The opposition also Black Consciousness Movement differed from the UDF in that they wanted to help but the black majority to their right. The Azanian People's Organisation ( AZAPO ) founded 1987, compared to the more radical UDF National Forum.
The " New UDF "
An initiative was launched on 22 August 2005 by the Western Cape Provincial Association of the trade union federation COSATU, which is unofficially referred to as " New UDF ". Background were tensions in the alliance of the ANC, COSATU and South African Communist Party.