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APARTHEID, SOUTH AFRICA
Officially started in 1948 when the Afrikaner Nationalist party came to power, South African Apartheid was a system of racial laws devised to "Preserve and promote a white majority over a black majority." There was racial discrimination and separation before that time but from that year onwards the government passed laws to enforce it.
 Apartheid was constructed on a foundation of lies. It was a lie that a race of white people were inherently superior to a race of blacks. It was a lie that apartheid acted to promote the best interests of all parties involved. And it was a lie that the South African government, between 1948 and 1994, was a legitimate democracy.
Basically, Apartheid was F*CKED UP! I mean, really, there's no better or simpler way to put it. Now it can be added to the ever-growing list of atrocities human beings subject each other to. When will we learn?
APARTHEID TIMELINE |
| 1948 |
The Afrikaner National party wins a general election. Initiates apartheid policies. |
| 1950 |
Legislation grants government with vast powers over people and organizations. The Population Registration Act. This law classifies people into three racial groups: white, colored (mixed race or Asian), and native (African/black). Marriages between races are outlawed in order to maintain racial purity. 'Non whites' protest over new Apartheid laws. |
| 1951 |
The Group Areas Act sets aside specific communities for each of the races (white, colored (mixed race or Indian), and native (African/black) ). The best areas and the majority of the land are reserved for whites. Non-whites are relocated into "reserves." Mixed-race families are forced to live separately. Through the Bantu Homelands Act, the white government declares that the lands reserved for black Africans are independent nations. In this way, the government strips millions of blacks of their South African citizenship and forces them to become residents of their new "homelands." Blacks are now considered foreigners in white-controlled South Africa, and need passports to enter. |
| 1952 |
Abolition of Passes and Coordination of Documents Act. This misleadingly-named law requires all Africans to carry identification booklets with their names, addresses, fingerprints, and other information. (See picture at right.) Africans are frequently stopped and harassed for their passes. Between 1948-1973, over ten million Africans were arrested because their passes were "not in order." Burning pass books becomes a common form of protest. ANC and its allies initiate a passive resistance campaign. |
| 1953 |
The Preservation of Separate Amenities Act establishes "separate but not necessarily equal" parks, beaches, post offices, and other public places for whites and non-whites. Through the Bantu Education Act the white government supervises the education of all blacks. Schools condition blacks to accept white domination. Non-whites cannot attend white universities. |
| 1958-66 |
Verwoerd elected prime minister. |
| 1959 |
Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) founded. 50,000 South Africans riot over slum clearances. |
| 1960 |
African and Coloured representation in Parliament (by Whites) ends. All black political organizations outlawed. A large group of blacks in the town of Sharpeville refused to carry their passes. The government declares a state of emergency and responds with fines, imprisonment, and whippings. In all, 69 people die and 187 people are wounded. The African political organizations, the African National Congress and the Pan-African Congress, are banned. |
| 1961 |
South Africa becomes a Republic. Apartheid attacked at Nobel ceremony. |
| 1962 |
The United Nations establishes the Special Committee Against Apartheid to support a political process of peaceful change. The Special Committee observes the International Day Against Racism to mark the anniversary of the people who died in the Sharpeville protest. |
| 1964 |
Nelson Mandela and other ANC and PAC leaders sentenced to life imprisonment. |
| 1966-68 |
Lesotho, Botswana, and Swaziland become independent states. |
| 1975-76 |
Mozambique and Angola become independent states. |
| 1976-77 |
Over 575 people die in confrontations between Africans and police in Soweto and other African townships. 1977 - Black rights leader Steven Biko is beaten and left in jail to die from his injuries. |
| 1978-84 |
Botha elected prime minister. 1979 - President Vorster resigns after 'Muldergate' scandal. |
| 1980 |
Zimbabwe (previously Rhodesia) becomes independent. South African forces invade Angola and launch attacks on Lesotho, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. ANC guerrillas sabotage South African cities. |
| 1983 |
United Democratic Front (UDF) formed. |
| 1984 |
Africans limited participation in the central government. Botha becomes state president. |
| 1985 |
First mixed marriage is celebrated. |
| 1986 |
Pass laws repealed. The government prohibits the press, radio, and television from reporting unrest. Police raids prohibit peace bid. 30,000 expelled from Crossroads squatter camp. Desmond Tutu becomes first black Archbishop in Southern Africa. |
| 1986-95 |
Violent conflict between Zulu supporters of Inkatha and the ANC in Kwa Zulu and on the Witwatersrand. |
| 1987 |
250,000 African mineworkers strike. |
| 1989 |
De Klerk elected first leader of the National Party, then president. |
| 1990 |
De Klerk unbans the ANC, PAC, and SACP. Releases Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners. 1913 and 1936 Land Acts, Group Areas Act, Population Registration Act, and Separate Amenities Act repealed. Political organisations unbanned. State of emergency revoked. |
| 1992 |
Troops kill 24 at ANC rally. |
| 1994 |
Elections are held. The United Nations sends 2,120 international observers to ensure the fairness of the elections. The African National Congress, representing South Africa's majority black population. Nelson Mandela, the African resistance leader who had been jailed for 27 years, is elected President. |
Cape Town >
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4 Main Pillars of Apartheid
Land Act - 13% of South Africa set aside for 75% of the population (blacks). Blacks not allowed to own/rent property outside these areas. Group Areas Act - Enforced physical separation of residential areas by race. Separate Amenities Act - Separate public facilities: schools, beaches, toilets, busses etc... Pass Laws - Blacks required to carry identity cards, and forbidden from being in towns without specific permission.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, to be gorgeous, talented, and fabulous. Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that others won't feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God within us. And as we let our light shine, we consciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Nelson Mandela during his Inauguration Speech
"In my view, the Reagan administration's support and collaboration with it is equally immoral, evil, and totally un-Christian. You are either for or against apartheid and not by rhetoric. You are either in favour of evil or you are in favour of good. You are either on the side of the oppressed or on the side of the oppressor. You can't be neutral." - Bishop Desmund Tutu
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