South Africa and Apartheid
South Africa, formally known as the Republic of South Africa, was once under apartheid (Afrikaans for 'separateness'). Its system of racist segregation and political and economic oppression was enacted and upheld by white people to deny Black and other nonwhite people equal rights.
The Definition of Apartheid
The term 'apartheid' is used in a variety of ways, referring to any system that separates people according to their race or ethnicity. It is most commonly used to refer to the former policy of apartheid in South Africa, which was in effect from 1948 until the early 1990s when it was dismantled.
Racist Government Policy
Apartheid in South Africa was a racist government policy that enforced the segregation of Black people from the white population and the discrimination against them in every aspect of public life, including employment, education, housing, and health care. It was a form of white supremacy and was widely condemned worldwide as illegal.
Anti-Apartheid Movements
During the apartheid period, a number of anti-apartheid movements were started by Black and other nonwhite South Africans, notably the Black Consciousness Movement and the ANC. These movements endorsed black pride and African customs, and helped to alter the negative feelings that were instilled by the system of apartheid.
The Black Consciousness Movement
A group of tertiary students in the 1970s created the Black Consciousness Movement, which was influenced by the Black Power movement in the United States. The group was instrumental in helping to change the feeling of inferiority instilled by the apartheid regime, and helped to break down some of the social barriers that were built during the apartheid era.
The African National Congress (ANC)
The African National Congress (ANC) was a party that advocated for a government based on the principles of equality and justice for all races in South Africa. It fought against the system of apartheid that had been established by the government, and won a series of elections in 1994 when the country's new government was formed.
The End of Apartheid and Economic Growth
After the apartheid government was overthrown, South Africa's economy began to improve, and the country became a popular destination for tourists. Its trade with Western countries grew, and it was a major exporter of cotton to the United States, Japan, and the UK.
Its trade with Africa grew as well, as did its relations with Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Malawi. However, a number of these countries continued to criticize the apartheid government and its policies, and were dependent on South African aid for their own economies.
International Pressure and Sanctions
In addition, the United Nations was attempting to isolate South Africa through military and economic sanctions. This pressure was aimed at isolating the apartheid regime, and ultimately led to its collapse.
A Crime Against Humanity
International law deemed the apartheid government's policies a crime against humanity, and it is illegal for a nation to practice such discrimination or to allow another to do so. The crimes of apartheid are outlined in the Rome Statute and the Apartheid Convention, and include unlawful killings, torture, forcible transfer, and the denial of basic rights.
International Actions
The UN imposed an arms embargo on South Africa in 1977, and encouraged the boycotting of oil sales to the country. It also banned cultural, sporting, and educational exchanges with the country's racist regime, and it urged all nations and organizations to do their bit to help in the abolition of the apartheid government.
