Paraphrase the following

1989 was a landmark year in South Africa. With change on the horizon, the year was characterised by an uneasy mix of violence and peaceful protest. Countless bombs and limpet mines were exploded; P. W. Botha resigned as state president in August after meeting with Nelson Mandela for the first time in July; and the Purple Rain Protest took place a month later prior to the elections that would officially install F. W. de Klerk as the last State President of South Africa. It was also the year that Sue Pam-Grant's play CURL UP AND DYE first appeared, a piece about five women living in an inner city "grey area" in Johannesburg, the kind of suburb in which people of varying ethnicities lived alongside one another during the last decade of apartheid. CURL UP AND DYE was an instant hit, its personal embodiment of the then-current politics resonating strongly with local audiences.

1 answer

The year 1989 was a significant time in South Africa, marked by a blend of violence and peaceful demonstrations as the country faced impending change. Numerous bombs were detonated, leading to an atmosphere of unrest. In August, P. W. Botha stepped down as state president after a historic meeting with Nelson Mandela in July. Shortly after, the Purple Rain Protest occurred prior to the elections that would see F. W. de Klerk become the final State President of South Africa. Additionally, this was the year when Sue Pam-Grant's play CURL UP AND DYE debuted, telling the story of five women living in a diverse inner-city suburb during the final years of apartheid. The play struck a chord with local audiences, as it encapsulated the political climate of the time.