experience fortheirmembers. 50.Atthesametime,debateisunderwayaboutthepossibility offorming abroad alliance ofanti-apartheid forces. Nopolitical consensus hasemerged, however, on thecontent ofsuchanalliance, Whichisseenbothasashort-term defensive strategy torebuild community organizations andasalong-term strategy toensure thetransition toademocratic andnon-racial society inSouthAfrica. As suggested bythejointactions undertaken bythenon-racial tradeunionmovement andpolitical andcommunity groups, anti-apartheid forcesmayseekunitythrough 8 seriesofclearly definedpolitical alliances focus~d onspecific programmes of unitedaction. Inthiscontext ofgrowing unitedaction, theseforceshavebegun tofunction undertheumbrella oftheMassDemocrati1 Movement. 51.Defiance ofapartheid lawsbecamethefocusof"Irganized protest inSouth Africa. Itmarkedboththeresurgence ofmasscamignsagainst apartheid andthe participation ofabroadalliance oforganizations opposed totheregime. Ledby theMassDemocratic Movement, theDefiance Campaign involved asuccessful actionin August 1989,whereby blackpatients appeared atwhites-only hospitals seeking treatment, aswellasotheractsofcivildisobedience. TheMassDemocratic Movement andtradeunions, inparticular, alsoorganized protests against corporations underwriting therugbytourinSouthAfricaofplayers fromAustralia, France, England, Scotland andWales.11/ 52.InSeptember 1988,theNational Anti-Apartheid Conference, withthe participation ofmorethan70organizations, convened byCOSATU, hadattempted to discuss unityandorganization against repression, andonepersononevoteina democratic SouthAfrica.litEventhoughtheConference wasbanned,itgenerated animportant debateonthecontent ofpolitical alliances. Someofth,scheduled participants metinsecretatCapeTowntodiscswaysofcontinuing ~heprocess ofcreating abroader coalition. AlongsimilaL lines,inAugust 1989, representatives oftheMassDemocratic Movement, BlackConsciousness Movement organizations, tradeunionsandreligious bodiesannounced atapressconference, inJohannesburg, thattheywouldconvene a"Conference foraDemocratic Future" in thelatterpartof1989. 53.Thenation-wide boycott oftheelections on26October 1988indicated boththe depthofthepopular rejection ofthestructures created bytheregimeandthe ability ofcommunity groupstoorganize theboycott inspiteofthestateof emergency. InNovember 1988andMarch1989,thesuccessful boycotts ofwhite-owned businesses inBoksburg andCarletonvillu, whicharerunbyofficials ofthe Conservative Party,showedthegrowing potential influence ofblackconsumer power -14-inthwarting anyattempt bythatPartytore-introduce pettyAROltblid. The combined actionoftradeunionsandcommunity organizations waRinstrumental inthe success ofthehoycott. ~I 54.Theextended hungerstrikebypolitical detainees inprisons thrcughout the country drewtheattention oftheinternational community todetentions without trialinSouthAfricaandattracted actsofsolidarity bymanygroupsand individuals inSouthAfrica, aswellasintheUnitedStatesandtheUnited Kingdom. Thestrikeforcedtheregimetorelease hundreds ofdetainees, including asi9nifi~ant numberoftheleaders ofanti-aparthgid organizations. Italso demonstrated thesusceptibility ofSouthAfricatointernational actionasseveral Governments maderepresentations calling uponauthorities eithertoreleaso or charge tt~~~t~inees. 55.Thisgrowingpolitical activity wasalsoseeninthestay-aways organized by workers andstudents on21March1989tocommemorate theanniversary ofthe Sharpeville massacre. InMay1989,indefiance ofemergency regulations, about 10,000persons, whitesandblacks, manyofthemundersevererestrictions, joined thefuneral service andpublicmarchfortheassassinated whitedemocrat, Dr.DavidWebster (seepara.30above). InJune1989,anumberoforganizations representing various sectors ofthecommunity sentalettertoParliament officials calling uponthemnottore-impose thestateofemergency. 1~1Therenewal ofthe Rtateofemergency on9~une1989wasmetbyprotests throughout thecountry while amassiv~ stay-away on16June1989markedtheanniversary ofthe1976Soweto students uprising. Tounderscore theincreasing useofdeathsentences against opponents ofAp1uthlid, anational campaign to"SavetheUpington 14"waslaunched
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the political situation in South Africa during the late 1980s, focusing on the anti-apartheid movement, protests, and attempts to form alliances. The language used suggests a focus on social and political issues rather than economic or environmental concerns.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Culture