South Africa and Apartheid

Apartheid

• Government policy that called for “separate development” of the races

• Four racial categories:– Africans75%– Whites14%– Colored (Those of African and European

descent)9%– Asians and Indians 2%

Minority Rule

• South Africa’s white minority rules the non-white majority

Pass Laws

• All blacks had to carry passbooks to show where they lived and worked

• Blacks were only allowed to buy land in small areas known as reserves

Homelands

• 1950

• 14% of South African land was set aside for the black population

• All other land was reserved for whites

Townships

• Areas away from cities where Africans were forced to live if they worked in urban areas

Protests and Reactions

• Sharpeville (1960)- Blacks demonstrated against the pass laws; white police killed 69 protestors

• Reaction– Harsher pass laws– Jailed people without

trial– Outlawed ANC

Protests and Reactions

• Soweto (1976)- Peaceful student protest against Afrikaans being made the official language in the school– Hundreds of students killed– Peaceful protests continued

1980’s and Early 1990’s• Blacks could serve in advisory roles in government

• Pass laws end

• People could no longer be removed to the homelands by force

• Interracial marriage allowed

• Some black people could:– Own their own homes– Have their families live with them – Change jobs without permission