The armed struggle was the guerrilla and sabotage campaign against apartheid after peaceful resistance failed post-Sharpeville (1960). It ended with suspensions in the early 1990s as talks led to democracy.
- **Poqo / APLA**: PAC's armed wing. Poqo (1961, "pure" in Xhosa) launched aggressive attacks targeting whites, police, and perceived collaborators — often civilians — with little regard for loss of life. Renamed APLA (1968), it continued into the 1990s with "soft-target" operations (civilian whites, public places) seen as payback for colonial oppression. Critics called it indiscriminate; supporters viewed it as total war on the system.
- **uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK)**: ANC's military wing (1961). Focused mainly on government/infrastructure targets (power stations, railways, police stations) to avoid civilian casualties early on, though some ops caused unintended deaths. More strategic and multi-racial approach. Suspended 1990, fully disbanded December 1993.
Poqo/APLA's approach was uncompromising and accepted higher civilian tolls as part of revolutionary justice; MK aimed to limit civilian harm while hitting the apartheid state hard.
- **Poqo / APLA**: PAC's armed wing. Poqo (1961, "pure" in Xhosa) launched aggressive attacks targeting whites, police, and perceived collaborators — often civilians — with little regard for loss of life. Renamed APLA (1968), it continued into the 1990s with "soft-target" operations (civilian whites, public places) seen as payback for colonial oppression. Critics called it indiscriminate; supporters viewed it as total war on the system.
- **uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK)**: ANC's military wing (1961). Focused mainly on government/infrastructure targets (power stations, railways, police stations) to avoid civilian casualties early on, though some ops caused unintended deaths. More strategic and multi-racial approach. Suspended 1990, fully disbanded December 1993.
Poqo/APLA's approach was uncompromising and accepted higher civilian tolls as part of revolutionary justice; MK aimed to limit civilian harm while hitting the apartheid state hard.
"Back in the day, the armed struggle was real — MK hit the power stations while Poqo and APLA went straight for the “soft targets”
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