Discuss South Africas apartheid policy of 1948. How was it initiated Essay

Discuss South Africas apartheid policy of 1948. How was it initiated Provide historical information of the time from the passing of this policy until gaining independence in 1979 - Essay Example In 1948 the National Party, which represented primarily the interests of Afrikaners, used the idea of ​​apartheid as their program and won the elections (Black South Africans already did not have the right to vote). All South Africans were divided by race into White, Colored, Black and Indians (Asians). Different groups had different rights; of course most of them belonged to Whites. Government introduced separate education and health care, transport, social and recreational facilities, churches; mixed marriages were banned. Even shops and beaches were â€Å"for whites only† and â€Å"for others.† Development of the policy of apartheid led to creation of Bantustans (Bantoestans in Afrikaans), the areas densely populated by indigenous Black South Africans; in fact those were reservations. The South African government created ten Bantustans in South Africa and ten in the South-West Africa (Namibia), which was under the control of South Africa. In fact, Bantustans were totally dependent on South Africa, their independence was not recognized by any country in the world. South Africa’s black population was forcibly resettled in the Bantustans. South Africa’s policy openly declared that the ultimate goal of creating Bantustans would be a situation in which no man with black skin color could be a citizen of South Africa and, accordingly, would not have any rights in this country. Due to condemnation and rejection of apartheid by the countries members of the British Commonwealth in 1961 South Africa left the Commonwealth and became an independent republic of South Africa. In 1994, after the end of apartheid South Africa’s Commonwealth membership was restored. Apartheid caused a strong resistance in South Africa itself. A number of organizations, primarily the ANC (African National Congress), organized numerous protests.