Apartheid in
South Africa
Human Geography B
• Europeans became interested in South Africa because of the
route around the Cape of Good Hope, located at the
southern-most tip of South Africa.
• It was important for global trade and allowed for naval
protection.
• The Suez Canal did not exist until 1869. Until then, all
shipping between Europe and Asia, Australia, and most of
Africa had to be done by the long route around South
Africa’s Cape.
History of South Africa
• The Cape was known as the “Cape of Storms”
because it was very dangerous for sailing.
• In 1652, the Dutch set up a permanent settlement at
the Cape of Good Hope to supply passing ships
with water and vegetables.
• This “supply depot” developed into the Cape
Colony over the next two hundred years.
The Dutch (the Boers)
The Arrival of the Dutch
• The British would also fight for control of the
Cape Colony starting in 1775, fighting both the
Dutch and the Zulu.
• In 1910, the Cape Colony, Natal, and two Boer
Republics joined together to create the Union of
South Africa (Republic of South Africa).
The British
• Literally means “Apartness” in Afrikaans
(Dutch word for African and the language
that developed in the Cape Colony).
• Racial Segregation in South Africa from
1948-1994.
Definition of Apartheid
• The first use of the word “Apartheid” came in a
speech in 1917 by Jan Christaan Smuts who
would later become Prime Minister of South
Africa.
• However, Apartheid can be traced back to the
colonization by the British.
• During this time, non-Whites were not allowed to
be on the streets of the Cape Colony or Natal
without a written pass.
Start of Apartheid
• After WWII, Smuts party began to move
away from policies of segregation.
• In 1948, the National Party was narrowly
elected after campaigning on a policy of
Apartheid. After taking power, they
immediately began implementing
Apartheid laws.
Apartheid
Flag of South Africa from
1928-1994.
• Legislation was passed prohibiting mixed-race
marriage.
• Individuals were classified by race and a
classification board was created to rule in
questionable cases. Sometimes, members of the
same family were put into different racial
categories.
• People were classified in four major categories:
White, Black, Indian, and Coloured (mixed-race).
Laws
• The Groups Area Act of 1950 became
the heart of the Apartheid movement
and was designed to geographically
separate the racial groups.
Homelands
• The Black majority were
forced to live on
“homelands,” similar to
Native American
reservations in the United
States. Rarely did the
homelands have plumbing
or electricity.
Homelands
• By moving Blacks to homelands, they
were no longer citizens of South Africa and
required “guest permits” to work and
travel to other parts of South Africa.
• This also prevented non-white people from
having the right to vote.
Homelands
• 1953 – The Separate Entities Act was passed
which created separate buses, hospitals, schools,
beaches, and universities.
• Just like the results of Jim Crow laws in the
South, separate did not mean equal. Black
hospitals were severely understaffed and only
1/10th of the amount spent on white schools was
given to black schools.
Separate
• Black people were not allowed to employ white people.
• Black police could not arrest white people.
• Cinemas and theaters in white areas could not admit blacks.
• Blacks were not allowed to attend white churches.
• Blacks could no longer apply for South African passports,
which made it almost impossible to travel internationally.
Other Apartheid Laws
• The United Nations and the International
Criminal Court defined Apartheid as one of the
eleven crimes against humanity at a convention
in 1976.
• Internal Resistance became stronger and the
African National Congress (ANC) began to take
action.
The International
Community
• Admist pressure from inside and outside sources, the
South African government agreed to hold free elections in
1994.
• This led to African National Congress leader, Nelson
Mandela, who had been jailed for 18 years for his role in
the resistance, was elected the first Black President of
South Africa.
The End of Apartheid