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Questions:

Below are questions for you to consider before and after you browse through our feature on the UDF.

  1. What event caused the formation of the UDF?
  2. What was the idea behind the formation of the UDF?
  3. The function and strategy of the UDF changed a lot over the years. Discuss.
  4. Name five important people in the UDF and write a short biography for each.
  5. How did the government respond to the formation of the UDF?
  6. Did the government try to use the same tactics to suppress the UDF as they had used previously on both the ANC and PAC? Explain.
  7. Why did the government fail to suppress the UDF?
  8. What was the relationship between the UDF and the ANC?
  9. What was the role of the UDF affiliates?
  10. Were the affiliates important? Why?
  11. What different affiliates were there? Think how you might categorize them.
  12. The UDF focused on mass participation. Why was this so important?
  13. What was the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM)?
  14. Why was it necessary for the MDM to be formed?
  15. ‘The UDF reacted to the situation and to mass actions in South Africa rather than leading the struggle inside South Africa.’ Discuss critically. Why did the UDF cease to exist?
  16. Do you think the UDF could still play an important role today? Explain.
  17. The UDF focused on the use of the media and the production of posters and T-shirts. Why was this so effective?
  18. Given your knowledge of the times then, create your own UDF poster or banner.
  19. What was the UDF slogan?
  20. Assess the role of the UDF in bringing about change in South Africa. The situation in the townships in the 1980s was unbearable with police attacks, necklacing, vigilantes, consumer boycotts and school boycotts. What effect do you think these things have had on post-apartheid society? Find out more about how violent the situation was in the townships and homelands in the 1980s.