A System of Legal Racial Segregation in South Africa

Around the 1900’s. apartheid had officially began in South Africa. Apartheid meaning separation.

It was a system of legal racial segregation. This occurred exactly during the years 1948 and 1994, under

which the rights of the majority of blacks were curtailed and minority whites were maintained. During

this period of time, although many said that there really wasn’t much separation and that everyone was

treated equally, blacks were the ones who were treated harshly.

It is said that South Africa is a country that is blessed with natural resources, including fertile

farmlands as well a unique minerals. Around the 17th century, South Africa was colonized by the English

and Dutch. The discovery of diamonds in the lands of South Africa resulted in English invasion. This

invasion sparked up a war called the Boer war. Both English and Dutch Had disagreements about sharing

power over South Africa. The two groups held sway until the 1940’s, when the Afrikaners (Dutch

descendants) , National Party was able to gain a strong majority. The strategist in the National Party

invented apartheid, therefore aiming towards a white domination. While doing this they planned to

extend racial separation.

Apartheid laws were created in 1948, racial discrimination was institutionalized. These race laws

touched every aspect of social life. In 1950, an act called Population Registration required that all

south Africans be racially classified into one of three groups. Those three groups being white, black or

colored people. The classification of these two groups was usually based on appearance, socially

acceptance and descent. A person could not be considered “white” if one of his or her parents were

“non-white”. This was determined by their habits, education and speech. Whites were already

beginning to be treated better than blacks.

In 1951 the Bantu Authorities Act assigned all Africans to their native lands, also known as their

“homelands”.

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