South Africa- Bus Boycotts

Fairly common- economic rather than political

Activists would form committees & negotiate with bus companies

Often successful- business leaders would intervene

These boycotts were spontaneous- ANC did not control the timing

Bus fare increase led to massive boycotts that spread to other cities

Price increase= one month salary

Protests are about more than price increase-removal policies angered the people

People who were unaffected joined in

Sophiatown, East Rand & ther cities join

70k join in show of solidarity, some whites joined

People helped each other- despite obstacles

Boycott was "grass roots" not organized by the ANC

Massive solidarity seen as a threat to the govt. & apartheid policies

Boycott showed the power of authentic protest, white sympathy was growing

Govt. blamed ANC, but then intervened to settle the dispute

ANC was unsure how to harness this anger- doubted it could be controlled

PAC started to become a rival of ANC