Apartheid means “separateness”. Apartheid was a strict and systematic social and political system which was enforced by white minority governments in 1948 and lasted up until 1994.
The beginning of Apartheid started when Asian and African slaves were brought to South Africa in the 18th century when diamonds were discovered. These slaves were stripped of their rights and were treated like property. This continued in 1910, when South Africa became politically independent and made many new laws promoting segregation and white privilege. Non-whites were stripped from their basic human rights as well as the right to vote, travel and own land.
Apartheid officially began in 1948, when the Nationalist Party was elected to govern South Africa. President Daniel Francois Malan won the election and began enforcing policies, which supported the white minority’s belief in racial segregation. During this time, the Population Registration Act was put in place, where South Africans were classified as either white, Colored, Indian or Native. The Group Areas Act located each racial group in a different area in the country and after the Bantu Education Act was passed, Native schools were no longer given any government funding or resources.
Extreme rioting and protesting began in 1960, when a large group of Black South Africans refused to carry their pass books with them. This is when the government declared a state of emergency, which lasted for 156 days. This is known as the Sharpville Massacre, where 69 people were killed and hundreds of people were injured.
Life for non-whites was hostile and dismal during Apartheid. Non-whites were forced to carry a pass book with them always, especially when purchasing food or leaving their homes. Fingerprints, photographs and personal information was present in each pass book. Non-whites were forbidden from voting and were therefore unable to oppose or end the unjust laws and acts. From 1976 until 1981, millions of non-whites were forced to reside in “homelands”, which were small and unstable houses which the government built. Because of the poor living conditions, many people died at very young ages.
Nelson Mandela played a great part in ending Apartheid. He was imprisoned for 27 years for trying to go against the cruel and unjust system and standing up for the victims of Apartheid. On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison by president F.W de Klerk. This was a celebratory and optimistic moment for South Africa. President F.W de Klerk also announced that democratic and multi-racial elections were to take place in South Africa and on April 27, 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa. This was the official ending of Apartheid in South Africa.