Confidential
NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE
GRADE 12
HISTORY P2
NOVEMBER 2025
MARKS: 150
TIME: 3 hours
.
This question paper consists of 9 pages and an addendum of 14 pages.
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History Grade 12 P2 NSC November 2025 Question Paper (Eng)
Grade 12 History Paper 2 question paper from the NSC November Exam 2025 (English), 9 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.
History · Grade 12 · NSC November Exam · 2025. Question paper, 9 pages. Read online or download the PDF.
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- History
- Grade
- Grade 12
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- Question paper
- Year
- 2025
- Exam period
- NSC November Exam
- Paper
- 2
- Curriculum
- CAPS
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- 9
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History/P2 2 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
1. This question paper consists of SECTION A and SECTION B based on the
prescribed content framework in the CAPS document.
SECTION A: SOURCE-BASED QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1: CIVIL RESISTANCE, 1970s TO 1980s: SOUTH AFRICA
QUESTION 2: THE COMING OF DEMOCRACY TO SOUTH AFRICA AND
COMING TO TERMS WITH THE PAST
QUESTION 3: THE END OF THE COLD WAR AND A NEW WORLD
ORDER, 1989 TO THE PRESENT
SECTION B: ESSAY QUESTIONS
QUESTION 4: CIVIL RESISTANCE, 1970s TO 1980s: SOUTH AFRICA:
THE CRISIS OF APARTHEID IN THE 1980s
QUESTION 5: THE COMING OF DEMOCRACY TO SOUTH AFRICA AND
COMING TO TERMS WITH THE PAST
QUESTION 6: THE END OF THE COLD WAR AND A NEW WORLD
ORDER: THE EVENTS OF 1989
2. SECTION A consists of THREE source-based questions. Source material that
is required to answer these questions can be found in the ADDENDUM.
3. SECTION B consists of THREE essay questions.
4. Answer THREE questions as follows:
4.1 At least ONE must be a source-based question and at least ONE
must be an essay question.
4.2 The THIRD question can be either a source-based question or an
essay question.
5. You are advised to spend at least ONE hour per question.
6. When answering questions, you should apply your knowledge, skills and
insight.
7. You will be disadvantaged by merely rewriting the sources as answers.
8. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this
question paper.
9. Write neatly and legibly.
Copyright reserved Please turn over
History/P2 3 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
SECTION A: SOURCE-BASED QUESTIONS 2025
Answer at least ONE question, but not more than TWO questions, in this section.
Source material to be used to answer these questions is contained in the ADDENDUM.
QUESTION 1: WHAT WERE THE DIFFERENT RESPONSES TO THE ATTEMPTS
OF THE CONGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE UNIONS
(COSATU) TO MOBILISE SOUTH AFRICAN WORKERS IN THE
1980s?
Study Sources 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D and answer the questions that follow.
1.1 Use Source 1A.
1.1.1 Quote evidence from the source which suggests that COSATU was
the largest federation of black worker unions in South Africa in
November 1985. (1 x 2) (2)
1.1.2 Define the term non-parliamentary opposition group in your own
words. (1 x 2) (2)
1.1.3 Explain what can be inferred (implied) by the statement, 'COSATU …
has allied itself to the aims, if not formally to the structures, of the
banned and exiled African National Congress …' (1 x 2) (2)
1.1.4 Using the information in the source and your own knowledge, state
why you think industrial trade unions grew stronger in the 1980s.
(2 x 2) (4)
1.2 Study Source 1B.
1.2.1 Comment on the significance of holding this COSATU rally on
1 May 1986. (1 x 2) (2)
1.2.2 What is inferred (implied) by the words, 'FORWARD WITH THE
WORKERS' STRUGGLE', in the context of mass action against the
apartheid government in the 1980s? (1 x 2) (2)
1.2.3 Explain the symbolism of the 'clenched fists' in the banner and some of
the workers in the photograph. (1 x 2) (2)
1.3 Refer to Sources 1A and 1B. Explain how the information in Source 1A supports
the visual evidence in Source 1B regarding COSATU's mass mobilisation against
the apartheid government in the 1980s. (2 x 2) (4)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
History/P2 4 DBE/November 2025
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1.4 Consult Source 1C.
1.4.1 Identify a campaign in the source that COSATU members conducted
through a strike that took several weeks in March 1987. (1 x 1) (1)
1.4.2 Explain the term grievances in the context of COSATU's activities
against the apartheid government. (1 x 2) (2)
1.4.3 Quote THREE pieces of evidence from the source which suggest that
the 'young recruits' were terrified. (3 x 1) (3)
1.4.4 Comment on the limitations of this source to a historian researching the
clash between COSATU and the East Rand Riot Squad in
March 1987. (2 x 2) (4)
1.5 Read Source 1D.
1.5.1 According to the source, why was COSATU House raided by
policemen on 23 April 1987? (1 x 2) (2)
1.5.2 Using the information in the source and your own knowledge, explain
why the demolition of COSATU House by the Security Branch was
described as 'unprecedented and unparalleled'. (2 x 2) (4)
1.5.3 List FOUR ways in the source in which the police demolished the
building and its contents during the COSATU House raid. (4 x 1) (4)
1.5.4 Why do you think that the Security Branch members misled the fire
fighters where the fire actually started? (1 x 2) (2)
1.6 Using the information in the relevant sources and your own knowledge, write a
paragraph of about EIGHT lines (about 80 words) explaining what the different
responses were to the attempts of the Congress of South African Trade Unions
(COSATU) to mobilise South African workers in the 1980s. (8)
[50]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
History/P2 5 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
QUESTION 2: WHY DID THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
(TRC) REJECT THE AMNESTY APPLICATIONS OF THE
PERPETRATORS WHO TORTURED REVEREND TSHENUWANI
FARISANI?
Study Sources 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D and answer the questions that follow.
2.1 Refer to Source 2A.
2.1.1 Name, from the source, TWO organisations within the Black
Consciousness Movement, in which Farisani served as a founding
member. (2 x 1) (2)
2.1.2 State any THREE types of abuses, according to the source, that
Farisani was subjected to during his imprisonment between 1977
and 1987. (3 x 1) (3)
2.1.3 Explain why Amnesty International declared Farisani 'a prisoner of
conscience'. (1 x 2) (2)
2.1.4 Define the term persecution in your own words. (1 x 2) (2)
2.2 Read Source 2B.
2.2.1 Give the names of any TWO Venda Security Branch policemen in
the source implicated by Farisani during his interrogation. (2 x 1) (2)
2.2.2 What does the statement, 'I don't hate them, they must tell the truth',
suggest about Farisani's testimony? (1 x 2) (2)
2.2.3 Explain what the phrase, 'Call on your God. He'll come and help you',
suggest about the tactics used by the Security Branch policeman
during the interrogation. (1 x 2) (2)
2.2.4 Using the information in the source and your own knowledge, what
can you conclude from the words, '… unless they come out and
confess, sooner or later they will come back …', with reference to
the perpetrators? (1 x 2) (2)
2.2.5 Why would a historian find the source reliable when researching how
the TRC's Human Rights Violation Committee dealt with the
violations against Reverend Farisani? (2 x 2) (4)
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History/P2 6 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
2.3 Use Source 2C.
2.3.1 Quote ONE piece of evidence from the source which suggests that
the TRC Amnesty Committee was satisfied that the amnesty
applications by the three policemen complied with the requirements
of the TRC Act. (1 x 2) (2)
2.3.2 Name THREE applicants, according to the source, who applied for
amnesty for the assault and torture of Reverend Farisani. (3 x 1) (3)
2.3.3 Explain the term oral testimonies in the context of the TRC's
hearings by the Amnesty Committee. (1 x 2) (2)
2.3.4 What conclusion can be drawn from the statement, 'The (TRC's
Amnesty) Committee is not satisfied that the above three applicants
have made a full disclosure', as required by the Act? (1 x 2) (2)
2.4 Refer to Sources 2B and 2C. Explain how the evidence in Source 2B supports
the information in Source 2C regarding the human rights violations committed
against Reverend Farisani by the apartheid security policemen. (2 x 2) (4)
2.5 Consult Source 2D.
2.5.1 Explain the symbolic representation of the following:
(a) Dullah Omar (1 x 2) (2)
(b) The security policemen (1 x 2) (2)
2.5.2 Comment on why the information in FRAME A differs from
FRAME B regarding evidence presented at the TRC hearings.
(2 x 2) (4)
2.6 Using the information in the relevant sources and your own knowledge, write a
paragraph of about EIGHT lines (about 80 words) explaining why the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission (TRC) rejected the amnesty applications of the
perpetrators who tortured Reverend Tshenuwani Farisani. (8)
[50]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
History/P2 7 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
QUESTION 3: HOW MIGHT THE EXPANSION OF BRICS COUNTRIES BE SEEN
AS A THREAT TO THE BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN THE
GLOBAL NORTH (WESTERN COUNTRIES) AND THE GLOBAL
SOUTH (BRICS COUNTRIES)?
Study Sources 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D and answer the questions that follow.
3.1 Refer to Source 3A.
3.1.1 When, according to the source, did the first meeting in the BRIC
format take place? (1 x 1) (1)
3.1.2 Name the FOUR countries in the source who agreed to develop
multifaceted cooperation among themselves in the formation of
BRIC. (4 x 1) (4)
3.1.3 Define the term summit in your own words. (1 x 2) (2)
3.1.4 Using information in the source and your own knowledge, explain
the significance of six new countries joining BRICS on
1 January 2024. (2 x 2) (4)
3.2 Read Source 3B.
3.2.1 Name any TWO strategic initiatives launched by BRICS in the
source that aimed at challenging the established international
order. (2 x 1) (2)
3.2.2 Explain the concept de-dollarisation in the context of the BRICS
challenge to Western countries. (1 x 2) (2)
3.2.3 Identify ONE reason in the source why BRICS countries attempted
to influence the agricultural sector. (1 x 2) (2)
3.2.4 Comment on how the 'diminished (reduced) US influence' would
change the existing international order. (2 x 2) (4)
3.3 Consult Source 3C.
3.3.1 What message is conveyed by the graph regarding the change in:
(a) The G7's share of global gross domestic product (GDP)
between 1995 and 2023 (1 x 2) (2)
(b) BRICS' share of global GDP between 1995 to 2023 (1 x 2) (2)
3.3.2 Using the information in the source and your own knowledge,
explain the implication of the growth in China's GDP from 1995 to
2023. (2 x 2) (4)
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History/P2 8 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
3.4 Study Source 3D.
3.4.1 Who, according to the source, was Trump referring to when he
said, '… leave the dollar, you are not doing business with the US
because we're going to put a 100% tariff on your growth'? (1 x 1) (1)
3.4.2 Give a reason in the source why BRICS+ countries are critical of
the Bretton Woods era. (1 x 2) (2)
3.4.3 Using the information in the source and your own knowledge,
explain why '… the fact that the BRICS+ countries form 35% of the
World's GDP and 45% of the world's population …' is a concern for
the USA (Trump) as the leader of the Global North. (1 x 2) (2)
3.4.4 Comment on the usefulness of this source to a researcher studying
how Trump felt threatened by the expansion of BRICS+ countries.
(2 x 2) (4)
3.5 Refer to Sources 3C and 3D. Explain how the evidence in Source 3C
supports the information in Source 3D regarding how BRICS is upsetting the
balance of power between the Global North and Global South. (2 x 2) (4)
3.6 Using the information in the relevant sources and your own knowledge, write
a paragraph of about EIGHT lines (about 80 words) explaining how the
expansion of BRICS countries might be seen as a threat to the balance of
power between the Global North (Western countries) and Global South
(BRICS countries). (8)
[50]
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History/P2 9 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
SECTION B: ESSAY QUESTIONS
Answer at least ONE question, but NOT more than TWO questions, in this section.
Your essay should be about THREE pages long.
QUESTION 4: CIVIL RESISTANCE, 1970s TO 1980s: SOUTH AFRICA: THE
CRISIS OF APARTHEID IN THE 1980s
The philosophy of Biko and the Black Consciousness Movement revived resistance to
apartheid in South Africa from the 1960s to the 1970s.
Do you agree with this statement? Use relevant evidence to support your line of
argument. [50]
QUESTION 5: THE COMING OF DEMOCRACY TO SOUTH AFRICA AND COMING
TO TERMS WITH THE PAST
The road to democracy was characterised by a non-violent process of negotiation.
Critically discuss this statement with reference to the period between 1990 and 1994. [50]
QUESTION 6: THE END OF THE COLD WAR AND A NEW WORLD ORDER:
THE EVENTS OF 1989
Explain to what extent Gorbachev's policies of Glasnost and Perestroika in the 1980s
ultimately led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Use relevant historical evidence to support your line of argument. [50]
TOTAL: 150
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