Apartheid in South Africa

Political Context of Racial Segregation in South Africa

• The National Party extended and named the policy of racial segregation with the implementation of apartheid in 1948.
• Apartheid, meaning "apartness" in Afrikaans, was the formalized policy of racial segregation that enforced discrimination against non-white South Africans.

Classification of Racial Categories

• The Population Registration Act classified all South Africans into distinct racial categories: White, Coloured, Indian, and Black.
• This classification system was critical for the enforcement of apartheid laws and restrictions on non-white citizens.

Group Areas Act of 1950

• The Group Areas Act established racial segregation in urban areas by designating specific areas where different racial groups could live.
• This act led to forced removals of non-white residents from designated "white" areas, significantly reshaping urban demographics.

Terminology of Racial Segregation

• Since the 1960s, the term "apartheid" has been used to describe the comprehensive system of racial segregation and discrimination implemented in South Africa.

Test your knowledge on apartheid in South Africa with this informative quiz. Explore the origins, key policies, and impact of this system of racial segregation implemented by the National Party.