United Nations Photo

Headline Apartheid in Republic of South Africa

Caption Description The Republic of South Africa occupies the southern portion of the African continent and includes the former colonies of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. It has an area of 472,359 square miles. Apartheid, which means separateness, was the name given by the Government of South Africa to its system of racial segregation. This policy of racial segregation had been followed since the Dutch-speaking Afrikaners and the English-speaking elements joined to form the Union of South Africa under the Act of 1909. In 1948, Apartheid became an official state policy when the National Party took power. Every person in South Africa was classified by race and is entered into the population register according to this classification. Apartheid was an official policy in South Africa until negotiations started to end it in 1990. In 1994 the first democratic elections were held, resulting in Nelson Mandela becoming the first black president of South Africa and formally marking the end of apartheid as a system of government.

[1970] Several whites led group still try to be "conscience" for South Africa. The Black Sash, a group of white, periodically stage demonstrations to highlight the injustices of apartheid. On the occasion of "Family Day" 1970, Black Sash members staged a vigil in Johannesburg protesting the break-up of family life under South African labour laws. Recently African men were being forced into "bachelor hostels" when they worked in "white areas".

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Unique Identifier UN7608507

NICA ID 238289

Production Date 07/01/1970 12:03:23 AM

Country South Africa

Credit UN Photo

File size 3.61 MB