Apartheid in South Africa

Last Updated : 13 Mar, 2024

Apartheid in South Africa: The term “Apartheid’ is derived from an Afrikaans word meaning “separateness”. The system of Apartheid was influenced after the National Party (all-white government) gained control in South Africa. Apartheid was a system of social and political segregation between the whites and the non–whites. Blacks, mixed races, and Indians mainly faced discrimination. The apartheid system was criticized worldwide for its racism and violation of human rights.

In this article, we will explore the history of Apartheid, Apartheid as a law, its development, and the role of Nelson Mandela in ending Apartheid.

Chronology of Apartheid in South Africa

DATES	EVENTS
1948	The National Party adopts the policy of Apartheid
1950	Racial segregation took a toll, various Acts were passed like the Lands Act to intensify the policy of Apartheid. African National Congress started its protest against Apartheid led by Nelson Mandela.
1960	The Sharpeville Massacre takes place.
1961	South Africa was declared a Republic but left the Common Wealth, Mandella formed a new military wing within the ANC.
1960s	South Africa was excluded from the Olympics.
1964	Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment.
1970s	More than three million blacks were forced to settle in black homelands.
1976	More than 700 people were killed in several anti-apartheid clashes
1984-89	Emergency was declared.
1990	ANC was unbanned and Nelson Mandela was released.
1993	An interim Constitution was formulated.
1994	The first non-racial general election was held, and Mandela became the President. Commonwealth membership was restored.

Apartheid – Overview

The National Party which came to power in 1948, enforced the proposal of social segregation. The majority of the country’s population were non-whites and they were forced to live in separate territory and use separate facilities. The whites and the non–whites had limited contact with each other. The Apartheid system led to constant strife between the whites and the non-whites.

Apartheid System – History

The Land Act was passed after three years of South Africa’s independence. The Land Act demarcated areas for the whites and the non-whites.
The South Africans were asked to stay in reserves and practicing sharecropping was made illegal for them.
The land that was demarcated to the natives was known as “Native Reserves” or “Native Trust Land”. According to the Land Act, the less fertile land was given to the natives whereas the most fertile and economically profitable land was reserved for the whites.
The Land Act dispossessed the natives from their ancestral lands.
The opposition to the Land Act formed the South African National Native Congress which later on became the African National Congress.
The 1948 general election was own Afrikaner National Party under the slogan “Apartheid”. Their main objective was to segregate the blacks and the whites from all social, political, and economic life.
The Great Depression and the World War II further intensified the system.

Apartheid Becomes a Law

Inter race marriage between whites and non-whites was banned. Sexual relation was also prohibited.
The framework of Apartheid was provided by the Population Registration Act of 1950, which classified South Africans by race.
The series of Land Acts that were passed restricted the movement of the non-white population. Around 80 percent of the land was reserved for the whites.
Other than land segregation, social segregation was also formulated. There were separate public facilities for whites and non-whites.
The development of Apartheid.
The policy of Apartheid was redefined into “separate development”, by Hendrik Verwoerd who became the Prime Minister of South Africa in 1958.
A new act was passed in 1959 titled “Promotion of Bantu Self Government Act” which created 10 Bantu homelands called Bantustans.
They were doing this to separate the Blacks and South Africans from each other to create a sense of division within the black population.
Many Black South Africans were removed from their rural lands, and those lands were given to the nonblack population designated as white areas. These lands were sold to white farmers at a very low price.
Millions and millions of black were transferred to Bantustans where they became a victim of poverty and hunger and they were denied to be a part of the national political body.

The development of Apartheid.

The policy of Apartheid was redefined into “separate development”, by Hendrik Verwoerd who became the Prime Minister of South Africa in 1958.
A new act was passed in 1959 titled Promotion of Bantu Self Government Act which created 10 Bantu homelands called Bantustans.
They were doing this to separate the Blacks and South Africans from each other to create a sense of division within the black population.
Many Black South Africans were removed from their rural lands, and those lands were given to the non-black population designated as white areas. These lands were sold to white farmers at a very low price.
Millions and millions of black were transferred to Bantustans where they became a victim of poverty and hunger and they were denied to be a part of the national political body.

Apartheid: Opposition

The nature of resistance to apartheid changed from nonviolent protests and strikes to a violent armed struggle.
The ANC along with the South Indian National Congress organised a mass meeting in 1952, where the attendees burnt their passbooks.
A new group was formed named as Congress of People. They introduced a Freedom Charter which declared “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, Black or white.”
The government crashed the meeting and arrested around 150 people.

Sharpeville Massacre

On 21st March 1960, the police opened fire on a peaceful unarmed demonstration organized by the blacks in the black township of Sharpeville.
Around 67 people were killed and more than 180 were wounded.
The incident of the Sharpeville Massacre is still very fresh in the minds of the people as one of the most dreadful events in History.
The Sharpeville Massacre persuaded the anti-apartheid leaders that the only way to gain political and social identity in South Africa was through violence. Many militant wings were formed to fight against apartheid.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was a South African activist and the former president who played a very important role in ending Apartheid in South Africa.
He became the first black president of South Africa in 1994.
He was known for both non-violent and violent resistance, and he was arrested three times for his anti-apartheid campaigns.
Nelson Mandela and the role of the African National Congress became stronger just after the 1948 general election when the Afrikaner-dominated National Party refined racial and social segregation.
Nelson Mandela was responsible for the 1952 ANC’s campaign that was organized against the unjust laws that discriminated against and segregated the blacks from the non–white population.
Mandela proposed his manifesto through a charter which was known as the Freedom Charter.
In 1952, the first South Africa’s Black Law firm was introduced by Mandela and Tambo which gave aid to the victims of apartheid.
After the Sharpeville Massacre, Nelson Mandela was convinced that the only way to end Apartheid was through violence. He formed the first militant wing within ANC which was known as Umkhonto we Sizwe.

When he was behind the prison for more than three decades, he analyzed the main reason behind Apartheid. According to him, “It would be wrong and unrealistic for African leaders to continue preaching peace and nonviolence at a time when the government met our peaceful demands with force. It was only when all else had failed when all channels of peaceful protest had been barred to us, that the decision was made to embark on violent forms of political struggle.”

The arrest of Nelson Mandela was not taken well by the blacks. Various campaigns and demonstrations were held with the slogan “ Free Nelson Mandela”. It was through his unending efforts that Mandela became one of the father figures for the blacks to fight against Apartheid.

Contribution of Nelson Mandela as the President of South Africa

He formed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate human rights and political violations.
Various social and economic programs were introduced to improve the standard of living for the blacks.
Under his presidential rule, he formulated a new Constitution for South Africa, a new central government as well as rules and regulations to end the discrimination against minorities.
He formed a multiracial “Government of National Unity”. He worked for the blacks and whites’ unity.
After his death, the United Nations declared July 18 as “ Nelson Mandela National Day”, to recognize his efforts towards democracy, freedom, and equality all over the world. The United Nations abolished Apartheid in 1973.

People Also View

Conclusion

We can conclude by saying that the end of Apartheid marks a transition from racial segregation towards a system of democracy. The end of Apartheid serves as a ray of hope that any country that is going through some serious political and social upheavals, can undergo a significant change, only if the citizens are ready to fight for their fundamental rights.

FAQs Related to Apartheid

What was Apartheid?

The term “Apartheid’ is derived from an Afrikaans word meaning “separateness”. It was a system of social and political segregation between the whites and the non–whites.

Who created Apartheid in South Africa?

Hendrik Verwoerd created Apartheid in South Africa.

Who was the President during Apartheid?

F. W. de Klerk was the President during Apartheid.

Who was the leader of anti-apartheid movements?

Nelson Mandela was the leader of anti-apartheid movement. He was best known for successfully leading the resistance to South Africa’s policy of apartheid in the 20th century. .

How long was Mandela imprisoned?

Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.

Suggest improvement

Democratic Constitution in South Africa

Share your thoughts in the comments