It’s easy to visit South Africa and enjoy the beautiful scenery and all of the fun things the country has to offer. However, it’s difficult for me to do so without also learning about the Apartheid era and its aftermath. Although the country has changed dramatically since the end of Apartheid (in 1994), the effects and reminders of Apartheid linger on both the people and the places.
After World War II, concerns about increased racial integration started to arise in South Africa. An official commission found that integration would bring about “a loss of personality” for all racial groups. With this in mind, in the 1948 general elections, the National Party ran (and won) on a platform of apartheid (a system that separates people according to race). They argued that South Africa was a diverse nation comprised of four racial groups:
- White (persons of pure European descent);
- Black (African natives – representing 70% of the population at the time);
- Asian (primarily Indians, Chinese, and Indonesians – the majority came to South Africa in the slave trade); and
- Colored (those whose heritage is a mix of any of the above groups).
When the National Party came to power, they quickly began to pass apartheid laws. All people were required to carry an identity card stating of which race they were a member. Mixed marriages were declared illegal as was sexual relations between races. Laws were also passed to ensure that each racial group lived separately – each group was allotted a different geographical area. This often required moving massive groups of people as many mixed races at the time were living side by side. In 1953, a law was passed dictating that all races should have separate amenities: buses, hospitals, beaches, etc.
Of course, the quality of services differed for each racial group with whites receiving the best services and blacks receiving the worst – with Asian and Colored services in between.
Education was segregated with black school systems designed to prepare their students "for a life as a laborer." The education of each black child was allocated merely one-fifteenth the funding dedicated to education for a white child. The belief was that you shouldn’t “educate black people to levels which they cannot achieve.” Separate universities were also created for black, Asian, colored, and white students.
Initially, only the white race was allowed to vote. However, in the early 80’s, the colored and Asian groups were given limited voting rights.
Not surprisingly, these new public policies sparked resistance. With this resistance (some peaceful, some armed), came a new set of laws outlawing certain organizations and public gatherings. Many political prisoners who were seen as “terrorists” were jailed.
To further segregate the different races, ten distinct “homelands” were created for black South Africans. Each homeland represented a different ethnic background. Ostensibly, the homelands were created to be self-governing and to help maintain the various cultures and ways of life. Eventually, however, the citizenship of black South Africans was revoked as they were now considered “citizens” of their new homeland. Approximately 13% of South African land was reserved for the creation of the homelands and was generally located in less desirable parts of the country.
Under the homeland system, the government claimed that discrimination on the basis of race was not taking place, rather “differentiation on the grounds of nationhood. . .granting to each nation self-determination and . . .separate development.” Unfortunately, many black South Africans were forcibly removed to their new “homeland,” in an area of the country they had never seen.
Colored and Asian people were also not allowed to live in white neighborhoods but didn’t have a “homeland.” Accordingly, townships were created outside of white cities and all Colored people were assigned to Colored townships and Asian people to Asian townships.
Eventually, international resistance to apartheid began to put pressure on the South African government. Several internal demonstrations resulted in a significant number of deaths which sparked outrage in the international community. In 1962, the United Nations passed a resolution condemning South African apartheid policies. The UN requested that their member states sever all political, fiscal and transportation ties as well as cultural, educational and sporting connections. Unfortunately, however, these sanctions were not mandatory for UN members and many did not oblige. In 1973, the UN declared apartheid a “crime against humanity.” By the late 80’s 25 nations had trade sanctions against South Africa.
Interestingly, international sports exerted influence against South Africa as well. Apartheid forbade multiracial sports so most international teams were unable to compete in South Africa. The International Olympic Committee banned South Africa’s participation in the Olympic games starting in 1964. South Africa was also forbidden from participating in international cricket after 1970. FIFA instituted a similar ban.
Throughout the 80’s, both internal resistance and external pressures were taxing the apartheid government which slowly began to revoke apartheid laws. For example, black South Africans were now allowed to live and own land in urban areas and educational spending was increased to one-seventh that of white children. More importantly, there was talk of the release of political prisoners (those arrested for resistance to apartheid laws).
Change finally came in 1990 when F.W. de Klerk ascended to the presidency of South Africa. He repealed all discriminatory laws, lifted the ban on anti-apartheid political parties, and released all political prisoners. Apartheid was formally dismantled through a series of negotiations from 1990 to 1993 culminating in the first elections open to all South Africans in April 1994.
With the end of the Apartheid government, a decision was made to create a new South African flag to represent the new democracy. The previous flag had been in use since 1928 and was loosely based on the Dutch flag with three smaller flags in the center: the Union Jack and the flags of two regions of South Africa, the Orange Free State and the Transvaal.
The new flag was unveiled on 27 April 1994 at the general election. The new flag is “a synopsis of principal elements of the country's history.” The different colors symbolize people of diverse backgrounds and the V or Y shape which demonstrates "the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity."
South Africa is certainly trying to move forward as one unified country. Reminders of this fact can be seen in many places, including at the cricket match I attended:
Now, eighteen years after the fall of apartheid, South Africa continues to move forward as a unified country with equal rights for all citizens. Recently, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, advised the Egyptians to look to the South African constitution when drafting their new constitution. "That was a deliberate attempt to have a fundamental instrument of government that embraced basic human rights." While undoing over 45 years of segregation is not an easy task, South Africa is well on its way.
Please forgive me for attempting to boil a HUGE topic into just a few pages. It’s not an easy task. I certainly cannot do the topic justice as volumes of information exist on apartheid. (Please note that I have not included information on Nelson Mandela as I intend to write separately about him.) That said, I didn’t feel right writing about the things I’ve done and seen in South Africa without mentioning a large part of their recent history. In fact, learning about apartheid and having discussions with South Africans, both white and black, who lived through it has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me in South Africa. It has certainly made me think about so many issues, but especially about history (including that of my home country) and how studying it is the only way we can learn from it.
Follow @reneestreet
Please forgive me for attempting to boil a HUGE topic into just a few pages. It’s not an easy task. I certainly cannot do the topic justice as volumes of information exist on apartheid. (Please note that I have not included information on Nelson Mandela as I intend to write separately about him.) That said, I didn’t feel right writing about the things I’ve done and seen in South Africa without mentioning a large part of their recent history. In fact, learning about apartheid and having discussions with South Africans, both white and black, who lived through it has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me in South Africa. It has certainly made me think about so many issues, but especially about history (including that of my home country) and how studying it is the only way we can learn from it.
No comments:
Post a Comment