51ºÚÁÏ

Use documents in this lesson to explore the ways in which Apartheid took place in South Africa. Also find out about the laws of the Apartheid in South Africa and how it affected the countries around it.

The term apartheid comes from the Afrikaans word meaning ‘separation’. This system implemented political, social, and economic segregation on racial grounds in South Africa. It ensured domination by the white minority population and discrimination against the non-white majority.

D.F. Malan, Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa (1948-1954) for the National Party, introduced apartheid in 1948. It meant that white citizens held the highest status, then ‘Coloureds (mixed-race)’ and ‘Black Africans’. Apartheid was contrary to all notions of equality. It was the intention of the government to separate and divide different tribal groups, confining them to specific areas or Bantustans.

This lesson uses original documents to consider some of the main legislative steps taken to create a system of apartheid in South Africa. What was the impact and consequences of apartheid for Black, White and ‘Coloured’ South Africans?

Please note that the language used in these sources is often inappropriate and offensive. We have included it as part of the historical record.