afstaat

Afstaat, also known as apartheid, is a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was prevalent in South Africa from the early 20th century until the early 1990s. The term "apartheid" is derived from the Afrikaans words "apart" and "heid," meaning "separateness" or "separatism." The system was officially implemented by the National Party, which governed South Africa from 1948 until 1994, and was characterized by strict racial segregation laws, policies of forced removals, and the denial of basic rights to non-white South Africans.

The apartheid system was based on the racial hierarchy established by the apartheid government, with white South Africans at the top, followed by colored people, Indian/Asian South Africans, and finally Black South Africans. Each group was subject to different levels of discrimination and oppression. Black South Africans, who made up the majority of the population, were subjected to the most severe restrictions, including pass laws that required them to carry identification, restrictions on where they could live and work, and the denial of voting rights until 1994.

The apartheid system was characterized by various forms of violence and human rights abuses. The South African Police, known as the SAP, were responsible for numerous human rights violations, including torture, extrajudicial killings, and the use of rubber bullets and live ammunition against protestors. The apartheid government also implemented policies of forced removals, known as removals, which involved the eviction of Black South Africans from their homes and the relocation of them to designated areas, often in overcrowded and impoverished conditions.

The international community largely condemned the apartheid system, with numerous countries imposing economic sanctions and travel bans on South Africa. The United Nations also played a significant role in condemning the apartheid regime, with the United Nations General Assembly passing resolutions condemning the system and calling for its abolition. The international community's opposition to apartheid eventually led to the collapse of the apartheid regime in 1994, with the first multiracial elections being held in South Africa in 1994, resulting in the election of Nelson Mandela as the country's first Black president. The apartheid system's legacy continues to be a subject of debate and discussion in South Africa and around the world.