South Africa
Mr. Herneisen
HRVHS
2008-09
Apartheid – former policy in South Africa of
separating people according to race.
Distribution – the way people or things are spread
out over an area or space.
Multiracial – made up of people from several ethnic
groups
Segregation – the separation of one group of people
from another, such as by race.
•Apartheid
•The former official South African policy of separating
people according to race.
•Gave most political and economic power to whites
(Europeans).
Colonialism
1650s – Southern Africa
colonized by Europeans
looking for natural resources
– oil, gold, copper
Also good land for farming
Dutch settlers
Also called Boers (farmers)
Developed new language
called Afrikaans
Afrikaans Language
English: I eat an apple.
Afrikaans: Ek eet 'n appel.
Dutch: Ik eet een appel.
German: Ich esse einen Apfel.
Eventually, the Europeans and
Africans married and had families
Their children were called “coloreds”
1860s
Asians begin moving to South Africa
to work on plantations
Major ethnic groups in South Africa
Whites
Coloreds
Asians
South Africa becomes independent
nation in 1910
Whites were given complete power over
government
Policy of segregation instituted
Whites and nonwhites were separated
Neighborhoods, schools, beaches, parks,
restaurants, etc.
Asians and Coloreds treated as second
class citizens with restricted rights and
opportunities
Denied jobs, good schools, health care
Forced to move to “homelands” and poor townships
Shacks with no electricity or water
 No health care
Minimal education
No math or science
taught to blacks or
coloreds
Not allowed to move around
freely
Worked in “White” cities,
but had to return to
townships at night
African National Congress
Political party formed to
fight for black rights
Nelson Mandela
ANC Lawyer
Sent to prison for 27 years
for protest activities
(1962)
Violent protests – many
protestors killed or put in
prison
1991 – Apartheid ended
by white president F.W.
de Klerk
All South Africans can
now vote and run for
office
Mandela released from
prison
Elected as President of
South Africa
Government Programs for
Jobs
Employment Equity Act
(1998)
Law that requires fair pay
and companies to hire from
all races and genders
Backlash: Some whites
resent jobs being given to
nonwhites, simply because
they aren’t white. Whites
are now being denied jobs,
just because they are white.
Schools now open to all
ethnic groups
Same schools, same
education
South Africa has
emphasized preparing all
citizens for good jobs
More nonwhites
attending college
More education = better
job opportunities
Cities becoming less segregated
Most “white cities” still too expensive for nonwhites
Improving housing conditions
Healthcare still limited
South Africa has highest number of HIV/AIDS victims
in the world (5 million)
2003 : 370,000 South Africans died of AIDS
Most victims are working-age adults
Fewer workers = poorer economy