Apartheid in South Africa Timeline (1948-1994)

1948

The Afrikaner National Party gained power of South Africa and enacted a list of laws for the natives.

1948

The Population Registration Act was established. It required all South Africans to be classified into 1 out of the 3 ethnic groups: White, Black (African Natives), or Colored (of mixed ethnicity)

The National Party government banned interracial relationships between these groups.

1950

• The Group Areas Act established a set of separate communities for different races. The majority and the best areas were given to white people.
• The Bantu Homelands Act was enacted to enforce a separate independent nation for black Africans. This forced Africans to give up their South African citizenship and become legal residents of their new residencies.

1951

The Abolition of Passes and Coordination of Documents Act required black natives to carry identification books with their life information. Africans were usually stopped for their passes. People began to protest against this by burning their passes. (It was mislead by the name.)

1952

• The Preservation of Separate Amenities Act established "separate but not necessarily equal" public places for blacks and whites.
• The Bantu Education Act was created for the government to supervise the education of all black South Africans. Black students had to accept and respect white domination. Non-white people could not attend any university.

1953

The ANC & the Pan-African Congress is forbidden.

1961- South Africa = NO part of the common wealth

1964- Nelson Mandela is sent to prison for a life sentence.

1966: Hendrik Verwoerd , the National Party Prime Minister is assassinated.

1960

• Africans begin to protest more frequently against apartheid. Organizations for protests were made by churches and workers. White people started joining blacks in the movement.
• Steven Biko, with an all black South African Students Organization, helped unite different students through the Black Consciousness movement.
• Soweto people begin to join the movement against discrimination and demonstrate their actions with a riot. White officials reacted with violence. Biko is beaten and arrested. He later dies because of his severe injuries.
• Millions of black South Africans are forced to resettle into "reserves".

1970s

• Crisis is heard internationally and the world responds to the cruelty in South Africa. Many countries begin to campaign a boycott against South Africa.
• In the late 1800s , countries from around the world continue to pressure South Africa to stop apartheid. Results are made by repealing some laws and rules.

1980s

1990&1991

• Nelson Mandela and other protesters are released from imprisonment.
• F.W. de Klerk, South Africa President, calls for a new constitution and repeals all apartheid laws.

A multiracial transitional government is established.

1993

Presidential elections begin to occur. The United Nations send official to South Africa to make sure there is a fair election. Nelson Mandela is elected to be their first black South African president.

1994