Which groups formed the core of the anti-apartheid movement?

The core of the anti-apartheid movement was formed by the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the United Democratic Front (UDF).

The African National Congress (ANC) was the most prominent group in the anti-apartheid movement. Founded in 1912, the ANC initially pursued a policy of non-violent resistance against apartheid. However, after the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, where 69 black South Africans were killed by police during a peaceful protest, the ANC adopted a more militant stance. They established a military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), which carried out sabotage campaigns against the apartheid government. The ANC's leaders, including Nelson Mandela, were imprisoned or forced into exile, but the organisation continued to mobilise international support for the anti-apartheid cause.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) was another key player in the anti-apartheid movement. The SACP was banned by the apartheid government in 1950, but continued to operate underground. The party believed that the struggle against apartheid was part of a wider struggle against capitalism and imperialism. The SACP had a close relationship with the ANC, and many of its members, including Mandela, were also members of the ANC. The SACP played a crucial role in the armed struggle against apartheid, with its members often serving in the leadership of Umkhonto we Sizwe.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) was a coalition of anti-apartheid organisations formed in 1983. The UDF brought together a diverse range of groups, including trade unions, church groups, student organisations, and community groups. The UDF played a key role in organising mass protests against apartheid in the 1980s. The UDF's strategy of mass mobilisation and civil disobedience put significant pressure on the apartheid government and helped to create the conditions for the eventual negotiations that ended apartheid.

In conclusion, the ANC, SACP, and UDF were the main groups that formed the core of the anti-apartheid movement. Their combined efforts, along with international pressure, eventually led to the end of apartheid and the establishment of a democratic South Africa.