The state suppresses the tenth anniversary of Soweto

Instead of announcing expected reforms, Botha rejected fundamental change. The speech intensified political isolation and contributed to a financial crisis.

Hidden police opened fire from a railway truck in Athlone, killing young residents and exposing covert tactics used against township protest.

Delegates from 33 unions launched a large nonracial federation committed to industrial organization and the wider struggle for democracy.

The government ended the partial emergency, but repression and resistance continued and a broader emergency followed only months later.

The government introduced extensive detention, censorship and security powers across the country before the tenth anniversary of the Soweto uprising.

Congress enacted the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act, restricting trade and investment despite President Reagan's opposition.

Unions associated with Black Consciousness and Africanist traditions formed a national federation independent of COSATU.

The election excluded the African majority and occurred under emergency rule, while the Conservative Party grew on the white right.

An explosion devastated the trade-union federation's Johannesburg headquarters amid state and covert attacks on democratic organizations.

More than 300,000 Black mineworkers struck over wages, safety and working conditions in the largest industrial action in South African history to that point.