Apartheid

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Zuid Afrikaanse premier dr. H. Verwoerd, Bestanddeelnr 911-1297 (cropped)

Cape-coloured-children

Annual per capita personal income by race group in South Africa relative to white levels

Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s. Apartheid, an Afrikaans word meaning "apartness," was characterized by an authoritarian political culture based on white supremacy, which ensured that South Africa was dominated socially, politically, and economically by the nation's minority white population.

Origins and Implementation

The roots of apartheid can be traced back to the colonial era, where racial segregation was implemented by the Dutch and British colonial rulers. However, the formal policy of apartheid was introduced after the National Party gained power in 1948. The government classified the population into four major racial groups: Black, White, Coloured (mixed race), and Indian. Each group had different rights and privileges, with White South Africans enjoying the most privileges, including access to quality education, healthcare, and exclusive areas for living and recreation.

Key Legislation

Several key pieces of legislation formed the backbone of apartheid. The Population Registration Act of 1950 required that all South Africans be classified into racial groups. The Group Areas Act of 1950 designated specific areas where each racial group could live. The Immorality Act and the Mixed Marriages Act prohibited marriage and sexual relations between races. The Bantu Education Act of 1953 segregated education, ensuring that Black South Africans received an education that was vastly inferior to that provided to Whites.

Resistance and End of Apartheid

Resistance to apartheid came from both within and outside South Africa. Internal resistance was led by figures such as Nelson Mandela and organizations like the African National Congress (ANC), which was banned in 1960 but continued to operate underground and in exile. International pressure also mounted against the South African government, leading to economic sanctions and cultural boycotts.

The turning point came in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the South African government, led by President F.W. de Klerk, began to negotiate the end of apartheid. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years, and the ANC and other anti-apartheid organizations were unbanned. These events led to multi-racial negotiations that culminated in the first democratic elections in 1994, won by the ANC under Mandela's leadership.

Legacy

The legacy of apartheid remains deeply ingrained in South African society, with ongoing challenges related to inequality, racism, and reconciliation. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), established in 1995, aimed to help heal the country and bring about a reconciliation of its people by uncovering the truth about past human rights abuses that occurred during the apartheid era.