The History of Apartheid in South Africa
 South Africa was colonized by the English and Dutch in the
seventeenth century.
 English domination of the Dutch descendents (known as Boers or
Afrikaners) resulted in the Dutch establishing the new colonies of
Orange Free State and Transvaal.
 The discovery of diamonds in these lands around 1900 resulted in
an English invasion which sparked the Boer War.
 Following independence from England, the Dutch kept peace in
the country until the 1940's.
 At that time the Dutch invented apartheid as a means to cement
their control over the economic and social system.
 Initially, aim of the apartheid was to maintain white domination
and racial separation.
 With the enactment of apartheid laws in 1948, racial
discrimination was institutionalized. Race laws touched every
aspect of social life, including a prohibition of marriage between
non-whites and whites, and the sanctioning of ``white-only'' jobs.
 In 1950, the Population Registration Act required that all South
Africans be racially classified into one of three categories: white,
black (African), or colored (of mixed decent).
 The coloured category included major subgroups of Indians and
Asians. Classification into these categories was based on
appearance, social acceptance, and descent.
 The Department of Home Affairs (a government bureau) was
responsible for the classification of the citizenry. Non-compliance
with the race laws were dealt with harshly.
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All blacks were required to carry ``pass books'' containing
fingerprints, photo and information on access to non-black areas
By the 60's, apartheid spread emphasized territorial separation
and police repression.
Apartheid in South Africa
Apartheid is an afrikaans word meaning "separateness" - it was a
legal system whereby people were classified into racial groups White, Black, Indian and Coloured; and separate geographic areas
were demarcated for each racial group. Apartheid laws were part of
South Africa's legal framework from 1948 to 1994.
Apartheid consisted of numerous laws that allowed the ruling white
minority in South Africa to segregate, exploit and terrorize the vast
majority of Africans and people of mixed races.
In white-ruled South Africa, black people were denied basic human
rights and political rights. Their labour was exploited, their lives
segregated.
Under Apartheid, racist beliefs were enshrined in law and any
criticism of the law was suppressed. Apartheid was racism made
law. It was a system dictated in the minutest detail as to how and
where the large black majority would live, work and die. This system
of institutionalized racial discrimination defied the principles of the
United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.
In 1976 the United Nations unanimously condemned the elevation of
one of the "homelands", Transkei, into an independent State
because it remained dependent on South Africa. Not one country in
the world recognized the new State. In 1982, almost one million
black South Africans were transferred to another country -Swaziland -- without their having any say in the matter.
Ultimately, Blacks demonstrated, held strikes and rioted over such
discriminatory practices. As a result diplomatic pressure mounted
abroad for change. In 1990, Nelson Mandela, who had devoted his
life to democracy, equality and learning for all South Africans, was
released from prison after serving almost 30 years for those beliefs.
He was elected president of the African National Congress the
following year, and in 1993 received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf
of all South Africans who suffered and sacrificed so much to bring
peace to their country. On May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela was
elected South Africa's first black President, in that country's first
truly democratic election.