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Apartheid in Modern South Africa Apartheid is the legal segregation
of races promulgated in the Republic of South Africa. The discovery of
gold and diamonds in South Africa during the 19th century, ultimately
lead to racially segregated compounds for mine workers becoming the
fore fathers of apartheid (Kanfer 79). By the 1920s de facto apartheid
was the predominant feature of life in South Africa (79). Apartheid,
fought against for many years, until now was still a main factor in
South Africa life. Today apartheid approaches its final years as
political supporters of anti-apartheid such as President Nelson Mandela
continually fights for a multiracial South Africa. The struggle against
racial separatism, apartheid, still however continues today as there
are many people supporting pro-apartheid movements. The hope for a
non-apartheid South Africa, although achieved through bitter battles
and political ploys, has today become a reality.
The political support of the antiapartheid movement was perhaps
seen greatest in 1991. Written in TIME Magazine by Greenwald, Former
President F.W. De Klerk in February of 1991 opened Parliament with a
pledge to legalize the militantly antiapartheid African National
Congress and released A.N.C leader Nelson Mandela from jail (56). De
Klerk also showed his intentions to "bring a swift end to legally
sanctioned racial segregation" (56). "He called on Parliament to repeal
immediately the remaining pillars of discrimination that dictate where
blacks can work and live" (56). De Klerk also asked lawmakers to
discontinue the Group Areas Act which segregated black and white
residential areas and the Land Acts, which prevents blacks from owning
land outside of specially assigned homelands (56). The Population
Registration Act which forces South Africans to register by racial
groups for political and economic purposes was phased out under de
Klerk’s plans as the act is a major underpin for the apartheid system
(56). Indeed, 1991 was the year of a great step forward for an
antiapartheid South Africa.
Yet another leap forward for a non-apartheid South Africa was the
election of President Nelson Mandela in May 1994. Nelson Mandela, the
leader of the African Nation Congress, fiercely opposes apartheid.
After the first all-race elections in April 1994, the South African
population took its leap forward in electing Nelson Mandela who would
further antiapartheid movements. The continuing support for apartheid
can be seen in many organizations such as the neo-NazI Afrikaner
Resistance Movement. These conflicting battles for support of apartheid
are not without their bloodshed in modern South Africa. On March 1994,
violence rang out in South Africa about apartheid as three
pro-apartheid supporters were shot by black soldiers (Lacayo 49). These
three people were indeed members of the neo-NazI Afrikaner Resistance
Movement (49). In TIME Magazine, Lacayo writes that these attempts to
defend a remnant of apartheid is doomed as South Africa transforms
itself into a multiracial state (49). Weeks before South Africa’s first
all-race elections in April 1994, thousands of armed white extremists
had an incurred with demonstrating residents in their demand to be
allowed to vote (49). The eventual outcome of massive gun fire left as
many as twelve people dead (49). These remanents of pro-apartheid
movements can be seen throughout South Africa. The political end of
South Africa looks in support of antiapartheid whereas the few who
don’t, condone violent actions taken place against the antiapartheid
supporters. Violence will plague South Africa so long as people remain
racist. But help from people such as South African President Nelson
Mandela and former President of South Africa F.W. De Klerk will keep
South Africa on its road ahead as the ultimate goal for the
multiracial, antiapartheid South Africa is within reach.
Works Cited
Greenwald, John. "The Twilight Of Apartheid." TIME Magazine Multimedia
Almanac. CD-ROM. Cambridge: SoftKey, 1995.
Kanfer, Stefan. "Cries of
the Beloved Country." TIME Magazine Multimedia Almanac. CD-ROM.
Cambridge: SoftKey, 1995.
Lacayo, Richard. "Apartheid Apocalypse." TIME
Magazine Multimedia Almanac. CD-ROM. Cambridge: SoftKey, 1995.
Trevelyan, Mark. "Mandela thanks Commonwealth over apartheid." Reuters
9 Nov. 1995
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