iament was bitterly opposed. The introduction of the Tri-cameral parliament, with its three chambers for whites, colors, and Asians, greatly politicized the colored and Indian community. Not only was the new system opposed for its exclusion of blacks, it also was condemned for the way it institutionalized racial groups within the constitution of the country. So, although it manages to maintain a certain skeleton of a democratic regime, this government only applies to certain individuals in the nation, therefore not truly following the democratic ideology. Botha himself probably accepted this, but believed that he could maintain white control over the political system with the help of corrupted political leaders from the colored and Asian communities. Logically, this meant more repression of those who were excluded and would not comply with the new arrangement.Botha’s reign as President ended dramatically in 1989. Within the context of an ailing economy, international isolation and sanctions, continuing endemic unrest and an inability to take the reform process beyond current levels, an ailing Botha was forced to resign following an internal move by FW de Klerk to oust him. De Klerk’s assumption of power just three weeks prior to the general election of September 1989 gave little indication that he would move so dramatically within the few months to follow. What is clear is that he realized that the National Party could not share power and hope to maintain political control. This is a point of major difference between De Klerk and his predecessor. Faced with mounting pressures and a realization that the only thing that could help South Africa was a truly dramatic change of commitment, direction and tone. The change had to be away from apartheid: he and his government had to accept that apartheid would disappear and an eventual non-racial election would have to take place to transfer power to the majority. This means that th...
