African apartheid refers to the system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the National Party government of South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s. It was a comprehensive policy that governed relations between South Africa's white minority and nonwhite majority for much of the latter half of the 20th century, sanctioning profound racial segregation and pervasive political and economic discrimination against nonwhites. The term "apartheid" itself means "apartness" in Afrikaans, reflecting its core objective of maintaining strict separation and white supremacy.
The Foundation of Apartheid
The apartheid system was built upon a series of laws and policies designed to formalize and enforce racial hierarchy. While racial discrimination existed in South Africa prior to 1948, the National Party system codified it into every aspect of life.
- Legal Framework: After coming to power in 1948, the National Party enacted a raft of legislation to solidify apartheid. These laws categorized every individual by race and dictated where they could live, work, and even with whom they could associate.
- Goal of White Supremacy: The fundamental aim was to preserve the economic and political dominance of the white minority, ensuring their control over land, resources, and the vast nonwhite labor force.
Pillars of Racial Segregation and Discrimination
Apartheid manifested through various mechanisms that permeated society, creating a deeply divided and unequal nation.
1. Racial Classification
All citizens were legally classified into racial groups: White, Black (African), Coloured (mixed-race), and Indian/Asian. This classification determined an individual's rights, opportunities, and access to resources.
2. Segregated Living and Forced Removals
- Group Areas Act (1950): This cornerstone law designated specific residential and business areas for each racial group. Non-whites were forcibly removed from areas designated for whites, often losing their homes and livelihoods.
- Bantustans (Homelands): Black Africans were assigned to ethnically defined "homelands" or Bantustans, many of which were impoverished and geographically fragmented. These areas were declared "independent" to strip Black Africans of their South African citizenship, further disenfranchising them.
3. Political Disenfranchisement
Non-white citizens, particularly Black Africans, were stripped of their right to vote in national elections, effectively denying them any political voice or representation in their own country.
4. Economic Discrimination
- Job Reservation: Laws reserved skilled jobs for whites, preventing non-whites from advancing professionally and ensuring their role primarily as cheap labor.
- Unequal Pay and Opportunities: Non-whites faced significant wage disparities and limited access to education and training that could lead to better employment.
- Land Ownership: The vast majority of fertile land was reserved for white ownership, while non-whites were confined to overcrowded and often barren areas.
5. Social and Everyday Segregation
Everyday life was governed by strict segregation. This included:
- Separate public facilities (beaches, parks, buses, trains, hospitals, schools).
- Separate entrances for buildings.
- Prohibition of interracial marriage and sexual relations.
- "Pass Laws" requiring Black Africans to carry internal passports to enter white areas, controlling their movement and employment.
Resistance and International Condemnation
Apartheid faced widespread resistance both within South Africa and globally.
- Internal Resistance: Organizations like the African National Congress (ANC) led the struggle against apartheid, employing various strategies including civil disobedience, strikes, and, later, armed resistance. Key figures like Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, and Desmond Tutu became symbols of the anti-apartheid movement.
- International Pressure: The United Nations condemned apartheid as a crime against humanity. Many countries imposed economic sanctions, arms embargoes, and cultural boycotts against South Africa, isolating the regime on the global stage.
The End of Apartheid
The system of apartheid began to unravel in the late 1980s and early 1990s due to a combination of internal resistance, international pressure, and economic unsustainability.
| Key Event | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Release of Mandela | February 1990 | Nelson Mandela, a prominent anti-apartheid leader, was released after 27 years in prison, signaling a shift in government policy. |
| Repeal of Laws | 1990-1991 | Major apartheid laws, including the Group Areas Act and Population Registration Act, were repealed. |
| Democratic Elections | April 1994 | South Africa held its first multiracial democratic elections, which saw Nelson Mandela elected as the country's first Black president. |
The dismantling of apartheid marked a pivotal moment in South African history, leading to the establishment of a non-racial democracy and a new constitution aimed at equality and human rights for all its citizens.
