It seems like you’re referring to “apartheid.”
Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was implemented in South Africa between 1948 and 1994. The word “apartheid” comes from the Afrikaans language, meaning “separateness” or “apartness.”
Key Features of Apartheid:
- Racial Segregation: Under apartheid, South Africans were divided into racial groups: White, Black, Coloured (mixed-race), and Indian/Asian. Laws were passed to keep these groups apart in virtually all aspects of life.
- Political Disenfranchisement: Black South Africans were denied the right to vote and were systematically excluded from political and social power.
- Separate Facilities: Public facilities such as schools, hospitals, transport, and parks were racially segregated, with white South Africans having access to far better services and facilities than non-white groups.
- Pass Laws: Black South Africans were required to carry pass books, restricting their movement and employment opportunities.
- Homelands: The government established “homelands” or Bantustans, where black South Africans were forced to live, separate from white areas.
Resistance to Apartheid:
- Nelson Mandela and other leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) led the resistance to apartheid. Mandela was imprisoned for many years due to his activism, but he eventually became South Africa’s first black president in 1994, after the apartheid system was dismantled.
- International Pressure: Apartheid was widely condemned by the international community, leading to sanctions and boycotts. In 1990, after decades of resistance and international pressure, the apartheid system began to collapse.
End of Apartheid:
- In 1994, South Africa held its first multiracial elections, marking the official end of apartheid. Nelson Mandela was elected as president, symbolizing the victory over racial segregation and the beginning of a new, inclusive democratic era for the country.
Summary:
Apartheid refers to the official system of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa, which lasted from 1948 to 1994. It was characterized by the separation of races in all areas of life and the denial of rights and opportunities for non-white South Africans.