Although racial segregation occurred in South Africa as early as the 18th century, it was only codified into laws from 1948, when the National Party ascended to power under D. F. Malan in 1945. Subsequently, this new government began to codify and enact very strict laws to legalize, expand, and ruthlessly enforce the racial segregation that existed in South Africa.
By 1955, the Lands Act had been passed to separate the Blacks (Bantus), Asians (Indians and Pakistanis), Coloured (Mixed race), and Whites into separate residential and commercial areas. It was against the Law for any of the races to mix up by entering other areas designated for another. This was meant to separate the races as much as possible. Marriage between the races was strictly forbidden. By this act, 87% of all South African land was occupied by the white minority.
Blacks who had lived in and purchased land within White areas and other areas designated for Whites only were ruthlessly removed and placed outside the cities. Their lands and homes were taken from them, and they could only rent but not buy back land.
Later on, the Apartheid government placed the Blacks into Bantu homelands and gave them independence to exist as separate nations. Hence, all Africans were declared citizens of those States and their South African citizenship were withdrawn, making it illegal for them to partake in South African politics or internal affairs. These artificial nations were never recognized outside South Africa. Moreover, these 10 “independent” Bantu States were financially dependent on South Africa and were manipulated by same. As well, White South Africa could not survive without Black Labour, making the intended separation practically impossible.
To solve this difficulty of benefiting from Black labour without living with Black people, the Pass Laws were enacted. This was the most hated of all the components of Apartheid. It required all people beyond age 16 to carry passbooks with them at all times. There were strict curfews. Being found in any White locality or even at another Black settlement without a Pass or Permit was illegal. Indeed, one in 43 Black South Africans were jailed for pass law infractions and many chose to violate this rule. You could not remain beyond 72 hours in Urban or White areas, even with a pass.
Even more hated were the dawn raids by policemen or their assigns (blackjacks; blacks employed in the townships) in Urban areas and townships to swoop and seize illegals (i.e., those without pass). Such raids are usually done with Alsatian dogs. As one cannot work or get housing without a legal pass, many Blacks had to hide and jump from place to place to avoid being caught in the dawn swoops. They had to therefore take on menial jobs and get paid poorly. Such illegals slept in chicken coups, darkened alleys, doghouses, etc. Anything to avoid being returned to the impoverished homelands…
The high number of illegals in Soweto and their inability to get permanent residence in the townships led to occasional riots and demonstrations that came to characterize Soweto as the centre of Black struggle against Apartheid. Soweto also became infested with crime and series of unending murders: Blacks against Blacks and Whites against Blacks. Nighttime and dawn at Soweto were filled with fear and dread. Screams of death and shadows of the assassin were commonplace.
Millions of South Africans demonstrated against this law, with Nelson Mandela leading the charge for everyone to burn their passbooks. The government declared a state of emergency as a result, and hundreds were brutally shot dead in the infamous Sharpeville massacre of 1960. You could be fined as high as $1725 (a lot of money in the 1950-80s) for breaking the pass laws. Most were also banned to the homelands after serving four (4) months in jail. This was dreaded because the homelands were extremely impoverished and lacked a lot of social amenities that made life comfortable.
The education of the Blacks was also modified to dilute and weaken the training of the African population. With the Bantu Education Act of 1953, Blacks were required to attend school to be trained in manual labour and other menial jobs instead of the comprehensive education required for a global citizen.
Blacks were prevented from attending White Universities and separate Universities were established for the different nonwhite races and Bantu tribes: Coloureds, Indians, Zulus, Sotho, Tswana, and Venda.
The government’s plans to enforce the Afrikaans language in schools led to the Soweto riots in 1979 that spread throughout the nation. Students demonstrating peacefully were shot at by police, killing hundreds. Videos of these atrocities spread globally, awakening the world to the monstrous inhumanity of the Apartheid government. The crimes against humanity, committed during Apartheid, are too dark to be fully described here. Briefly however, it was a legalized form of government-sponsored reign of terror and fear.
Persons seen to be against the government were targeted and annihilated. Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver R. Tambo, etc. were lucky to have been given life sentences and banished to Robben Island. Others, such as Chris Hani Baragwanath were assassinated. Thousands were abducted and never seen again. People were sprayed with bullets during peaceful demonstrations. It was common for people to be killed in their homes at dawn or at night while they slept. Others had their houses set on fire to kill them and/destroy all that they had.
Yet, the people fought on for freedom. In 1986, under international pressure, the pass laws were removed. The coming to power of F. W. de Klerk began steps to remove all apartheid laws until Apartheid was removed finally in 1991 and democracy was restored in 1994.
The evils by a few men against the many, in order to control their populations have just begun. The worst are yet to come. Keep on reading the next articles for more.
Happy Sabbath!
