Apartheid, the Afrikaans name given by the white-ruled South African Nationalist Party in 1948 to the country’s harsh, institutionalized system of racial segregation, ended in the early 1990s as part of a series of measures leading to the installation of a democratic government in 1994.
The consequences and legacies of apartheid are still felt strongly in South Africa, limiting black people’s economic and social mobility and guaranteeing that the vast majority of people continue to live under apartheid-era land and housing rules.
How did apartheid in South Africa end?
What caused the fall of apartheid? F.W. de Klerk, South Africa’s president, was in office. Apartheid-supporting legislation was overturned by de Klerk in the early 1990s, and a new constitution that granted broader rights to blacks and other ethnic groups was passed in 1993.
Who was responsible for the establishment of apartheid in South Africa?
Hendrik Verwoerd, dubbed the “Architect of Apartheid,” was Prime Minister and leader of the National Party from 1958 until 1966. He was instrumental in determining how apartheid policy would be implemented.
Who ended apartheid and how did it end?
De Klerk removed racial segregation in public spaces and lifted the ban on protest marches in 1989. Parks, beaches, and even benches were previously segregated based on skin tone. Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk agreed to abolish apartheid.
Which countries supported South Africa during the apartheid regime?
The ANC and PAC received military assistance from the Soviet Union, Tanzania, Zambia, and other countries. However, neighboring countries such as Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland found it more difficult due to their economic dependence on South Africa.
