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2013/2014 • Breaking News
What in the World? • Level 1
-1-
Apartheid’s Ugly History
Apartheid was a government
policy of racial segregation and
discrimination. It was directed at
non-white citizens of South Africa
and lasted between 1948 and the
early 1990s.
a brilliant stone on the family
farm. It was a huge diamond.
Twenty years later, gold was
discovered in the same region. A
rush to find gems and minerals
began.
Oppression against blacks began
with the colonization of the region
in the 1600s. What is now South
Africa was then a stopover for
Dutch traders travelling to and
from the Far East. Those who
settled in South Africa became
known as Boers, the local term for
farmers. Today, their descendants
are called Afrikaners.
The lure of riches drew more
British settlers. That caused
tensions that led to a three-year
war with the Boers. The British
won the conflict, which ended in
1902. However, the two groups
ruled together until South Africa
gained independence from Britain
in 1910.
The British soon arrived to
challenge the Dutch. Both groups
of white settlers forcibly took land
away from the black Africans who
lived there. The British then forced
the Boers north, where they set up
colonies.
A Rush For Gold And Diamonds
At the time, about 80 percent of
the population was non-white. Yet
political control was in the hands
of the white minority. The new
government strengthened its
powers with laws that further
restricted the rights and freedoms
of non-white citizens.
These new Boer settlements
proved to yield great wealth. In
1866 a 15-year-old boy came upon
In 1948, only whites could vote.
That year, the National Party (NP)
was elected and it established
2013/2014 • Breaking News
The Ugliness Of Apartheid
What in the World? • Level 1
apartheid. The term means ‘the
state of being apart’ in Afrikaans.
The move involved many new
laws, but three were especially
hateful. The first required every
citizen to be classified according to
race.
The government identified people
as part of one of four main groups:
‘White’, ‘Black’, ‘Asian’ and
‘Coloured’ (mixed race).
The second law banned marriage
between people of different races.
The third law ordered the races to
live in separate areas. That often
pulled families apart.
A Harsh Life Under Apartheid
Life was difficult for non-whites in
South Africa. Coloured people
were regarded as inferior and all
aspects of life were separated:
housing, schools, transportation,
stores, restaurants, healthcare,
sports, etc. Only whites could own
land and most skilled jobs were
reserved for them.
Blacks were forced into dirty
townships or polluted industrial
-2-
regions. Whites got the best farms
and residences. Blacks couldn’t
travel or work freely. Their health
care came from the poorest
hospitals.
By contrast, if you were white, you
had good health care, your children
could go to school, and you could
live anywhere.
In the 1950s protests and
rebellions against apartheid grew
stronger. These demonstrations
were peaceful. That changed,
however, when police shot 69
black people in the township of
Sharpeville in 1960.
Activists then started a campaign
to sabotage the government. They
organized massive strikes that
brought the nation to a halt. They
convinced governments of other
countries to impose sanctions on
South Africa.
The Pressure Mounts
In 1976, high school students in
the black townships rose up to
fight white minority rule.
Hundreds died and thousands were
injured before their uprising was
crushed.
The action shocked people around
the world. Pressure against
apartheid intensified and countries
tightened their sanctions against
South Africa.
Canada was at the forefront of this
movement. After Brian Mulroney
was elected prime minister in
1984, he worked hard to convince
the United Kingdom and other
countries to help end apartheid.
“Canada is ready, if there are no . .
. changes in South Africa . . .
relations with South Africa may
colonization: to send people to live in and govern another
country or territory
discrimination: the unfair treatment of a person or a group
oppression: unfair and cruel treatment by a powerful person
or government
racial segregation: the separation of races in everyday life,
either as prescribed by law or by social norms
2013/2014 • Breaking News
have to be severed absolutely,” he
said.
The Slow Pace Of Progress
By 1990, South Africa gave in to
the pressure. It finally abandoned
its ugly policies.
Change came slowly, however.
Even today, many non-whites
don’t have decent housing,
education or health care. Still,
hope exists where there was none
before.
“We have lifted a massive amount
of black people out of poverty and
removed the barriers to their being
able to improve themselves,” says
one political analyst.
“What South Africa now needs is a
leadership crop that will commit . .
.to create the jobs we need to lift
those at the bottom of our society
out of their desperate plight.”
sabotage: the destruction of property or obstruction of normal
operations
sanction: an official policy, such as the stopping of trade, that
is taken against a country
strike: a refusal to work as a form of protest
What in the World? • Level 1
-3-
On The Lines
Answer the following in complete sentences:
1. Which two groups controlled South Africa in the early 1800s?
2. Describe what happened in the mid-1800s that caused more British settlers to come to South Africa.
3. Which political party established the policy of apartheid in South Africa in 1948?
4. List at least three examples of how apartheid discriminated against non-whites.
5. What happened in the township of Sharpeville in 1960?
6. How did the campaign against apartheid change after this tragic event?
7. What did Canada and other countries do to pressure South Africa to end apartheid?
8. Were these efforts successful? Explain.
True Or False?
Mark each statement T (True) or F (False). If a statement is false, write the word or words that make it true on the lines
below.
______ 1. Many British settlers came to South Africa in the 1800s to work in the rich oilfields.
______ 2. Apartheid was introduced in South Africa by the Boers in the mid-1800s.
______ 3. All of the protests inside South Africa against apartheid were peaceful.
______ 4. Canada played an important role in the international campaign against apartheid.
Between The Lines
Making an inference: An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence. A plausible inference is supported by evidence
in the article and is consistent with known facts outside of the article.
What inference (s) can you draw from the fact that many non-whites in South Africa still do not have good jobs, decent
housing, and access to good education and health care.
Just Talk About It
1. Why do you think the South African government created the apartheid system?
2. Why was it necessary for the minority whites to create a race classification system?
On-Line
Find out more about apartheid at the Crimes of War website (or visit
http://www.crimesofwar.org/a-z-guide/apartheid/).
Find out more about apartheid’s roots on the BBC website (or visit
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/0/22786616).
Visit the Apartheid Museum website to learn more about the apartheid regime (or visit
http://www.apartheidmuseum.org/permanent-exhibition).
2013/2014 • Breaking News
What in the World? • Level 1
-4-
Mandela: The Last Great Liberator
The world lost a great man when
Nelson Mandela died on December
5 at age 95. He was known for his
moral courage, his kindness and
his toughness in the face of evil.
For decades, Mr. Mandela fought
to end racial prejudice and
apartheid in his homeland, South
Africa. To silence him, the
government threw him in prison.
He spent 27 years behind bars. Yet
when he was finally released, he
forgave his tormenters and became
his nation’s first black president.
A Leader In The Making
Mr. Mandela, a member of the
Thembu people, was born in 1918.
The young tribesman was raised
by royalty. He was the first
member of his family to attend
school. A British teacher changed
his name to Nelson.
Classes took place in a one-room
schoolhouse next to the palace. He
studied history and learned that his
black countrymen couldn’t vote or
2013/2014 • Breaking News
own land. Most of them were poor
and without hope. He developed a
deep interest in this injustice.
Civil Disobedience
The young Mandela went on to
law school. In 1944 he joined the
African National Congress (ANC).
This group opposed apartheid and
it encouraged South Africans to
rise up and demand full
citizenship, access to land and free
education for all.
In 1949, Mr. Mandela urged South
Africans to peacefully oppose
apartheid. He led them in acts of
civil disobedience to bring about
these changes.
The authorities did everything in
their power to stop Mr. Mandela.
He often had to live in hideouts
and wear disguises to avoid being
arrested. Eventually he was caught
and put on trial. Mr. Mandela was
accused of trying to overthrow the
government. In 1964, he was
sentenced to life in prison.
What in the World? • Level 1
“I have cherished the ideal of a
democratic and free society in
which all persons live together in
harmony,” he said during his trial.
“It is an ideal which I hope to live
for and to see realized. But if need
be, it is an ideal for which I am
prepared to die.”
From Prisoner To President
He kept his faith and his wellknown good humour, rallying his
supporters from behind bars. His
efforts worked. World pressure
mounted against apartheid. South
African president F. W. de Klerk
finally agreed to bring the hated
policy to an end.
Mr. Mandela, then 71, was allowed
to leave prison at last and new
laws passed in 1993 gave equality
to all South Africans.
Even more remarkably, Mr.
Mandela was elected president in
1994 – the first time blacks were
allowed to vote. He served until
1999.
-5-
Truth And Reconciliation
The World Pays Tribute
One of his first actions as president
was to establish a Truth and
Reconciliation Commission
(TRC) in 1995. The TRC offered
amnesty to people who committed
crimes during the apartheid era.
On December 10, tens of
thousands of South Africans
gathered in a huge sports stadium
to pay tribute to the life of Nelson
Mandela. Attending, too, were
more than 100 current or former
heads of state from around the
world.
To earn amnesty, perpetrators
had to tell the truth publicly. They
testified about governmentsponsored torture, kidnappings,
and assassinations. The
commission heard from all sides,
including from those in the ANC
who had also committed violence.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
was at the event. So were former
prime ministers Brian Mulroney,
Jean Chrétien and Kim Campbell.
Former Governor General
Michaëlle Jean was also present.
“One of the world’s most
respected political and moral
leaders, Nelson Mandela was a
model of humility, grace, and
forgiveness who dedicated his life
to the relentless pursuit of equality,
justice and freedom for the people
of South Africa,” said Prime
Minister Harper.
“His life and teachings touched
Canadians deeply. His legend and
legacy will undoubtedly inspire
people from all walks of life for
generations to come.”
About South Africa
South Africa, with nearly 49 million people, is on the southern coast of the African
continent where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. At 1,214,470 square kilometres, it is
slightly larger than Ontario. The main religion is Christianity.
Nearly 80 percent of South Africans are black and about nine percent are white. The rest
come from different backgrounds.
Natural resources have fuelled South Africa’s strong economy. Its mines produce most of
the world’s platinum and gold and many of its diamonds. Yet nearly one-quarter of the
population is unemployed and over 40 percent live on less than $2 a day.
Did You Know?
South Africa has 11 official languages. Afrikaans, derived from Dutch, is one. English is
another. The others are all dialects spoken by the people of different regions.
amnesty: an official pardon
apartheid: a South African system of segregation or
discrimination on grounds of race
civil disobedience: the refusal to obey certain laws or to pay
taxes as a peaceful form of political protest
2013/2014 • Breaking News
dialects: forms of a language that are specific to a region
perpetrator: one who is responsible for a crime
prejudice: an unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group
because of race, sex, religion, etc.
reconciliation: the restoration of friendly relations
What in the World? • Level 1
-6-
Choose The Most Important
1. Use the information in the article to choose three important events from each period of Nelson Mandela’s life. List
these events on the organizer below in order of importance.
1.
The Early Years
1918 - 1947
2.
3.
1.
The Apartheid Era
1948 - 1993
2.
3.
1.
Post Apartheid
1994 - 2013
2.
3.
2. After completing the organizer, select the three events from Mr. Mandela’s life that you think are most the important
and explain why you chose them.
#1
#2
#3
2013/2014 • Breaking News
What in the World? • Level 1
-7-
Between The Lines
1. Making a prediction: What do you suppose will happen in South Africa in the coming years? A plausible prediction is
supported by evidence in the article and is consistent with known facts outside of the article.
2. Remembering Nelson Mandela. Imagine you are a senior representative of Canada’s government. You have been
asked to make a short speech to honour Mr. Mandela at a large international event. Write down the main ideas of your
speech in point form on a single sheet of paper or cue card.
Beyond The Lines
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established by South Africa in 1995. It offered amnesty to all people who
did bad things during the apartheid era.
1) Why do you think it was set up?
2) Why do you think it was one of the first actions taken by Mr. Mandela as president?
Just Talk About It
Consider the following quotes by Nelson Mandela:
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the
freedom of others.”
1) What is your understanding of these quotes?
2) Respond to these quotes. Do you agree or disagree with Mr. Mandela’s belief? Why or why not?
On-Line
1. Visit the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s website with extensive info on life and action (or visit
http://www.nelsonmandela.org/?origin=p90).
2. View a short (13 minutes) film detailing his life and political achievements (or visit
http://www.nelsonmandela.org/multimedia/entry/nelson-mandelas-life-story-documentary).
3. Find more about the African National Congress website (or visit
http://www.anc.org.za/index.php).
2013/2014 • Breaking News
What in the World? • Level 1
-8-