Apartheid South Africa: Nature & characteristics of discrimination

Nature of Discrimination in Apartheid South Africa

Apartheid: Policy of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the National Party government in South Africa between 1948 and 1994. The term ‘apartheid’ comes from Afrikaans and means ‘apartness’.
Pass Laws: Apartheid law which required non-whites to carry pass books in designated areas for the purpose of maintaining population segregation.
Bantustans: Under apartheid, black individuals were forcibly removed to these homeland areas based on their ethnic background.
Petty and Grand Apartheid: Petty apartheid referred to the segregation of public facilities and social events while grand apartheid dictated housing and job opportunities by race.

Systematised: Apartheid laws were systematic and been enforced rigorously by state institutions ensuring widespread discrimination across society.
Racial hierarchy: The apartheid regime established clear racial hierarchies, with white South Africans given most rights, followed by Asians and coloured, while black Africans had the least.
Economic exploitation: Black South Africans were often subjected to economically exploitative conditions, with limited job opportunities and forced into low-wage labour.
Socio-political exclusion: Black South Africans were excluded from political participation and denied basic civil rights.

Nelson Mandela: Leader of the African National Congress who was imprisoned for 27 years for his opposition to apartheid. After his release, he was elected President in 1994 in South Africa’s first non-racial elections.
African National Congress (ANC): Main organisation opposing apartheid, shaped by notable leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo.
F.W. de Klerk: The last President of apartheid-era South Africa. Facilitated the end of apartheid by lifting the ban on the ANC and releasing Nelson Mandela from prison.
Steve Biko: Leading member of the Black Consciousness movement, killed while in police custody in 1977. His death sparked international protests.

Soweto Uprising (1976): Large-scale, youth-led uprising where thousands protested the mandatory use of Afrikaans in schools. Police response resulted in the death of hundreds of young people.
Sharpeville Massacre (1960): Massacre occurred during a protest against pass laws. Police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69 people and igniting global condemnation.
Release of Nelson Mandela (1990): Marked the beginning of the end for apartheid. Mandela worked with President F.W. de Klerk to dismantle the apartheid regime.
First Non-Racial Elections (1994): Marked the official end of apartheid with Nelson Mandela becoming South Africa’s first black President.