Politics And society

J. B. M. Hertzog was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1924 - 1939. Throughout his life he encouraged the development of Afrikaner (Dutch descendants) culture and white supremacy in South Africa even though the white population was a minority group (J.B.M. Hertzog).

The apartheid brought with it even deeper racial segregation between whites and persons of colour. All Africans adults were required to carry passbooks with them. They weren't allowed to be paid more than any white employer/employee under any circumstance. Such strong rules deprived Africans, and other coloured persons, of their right to a good quality of life (The History of Apartheid in South Africa).

The Defiance Campaign of 1952 was the first multi-racial non-violent protest against the unjustness of the apartheid laws. Thousands of people protested by boycotting the laws and many were arrested. Even though the people did not achieve their goal - to end the unfair laws - it demonstrated the large-scale and growing opposition to the apartheid. Nelson Mandela was one of the main leaders during this campaign (Defiance Campaign 1952).

" Women from all parts of the country arrived in Pretoria, some from as far afield as Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. They then flocked to the Union Buildings in a determined yet orderly manner. Estimates of the number of women delegates ranged from 10 000 to 20 000, with FSAW claiming that it was the biggest demonstration yet held.Women had once again shown that the stereotype of women as politically inept and immature, tied to the home, was outdated and inaccurate" (The 1956 Women's March).

The Sharpeville Massacre of 21 March 1960 left 69 peaceful South African protesters dead and more than 180 injured. It drew international attention to the evil of South Africa's apartheid system. The participants of the protest were supposed to present themselves at the Sharpeville police station without their pass books and demand to be arrested since with enough blacks arrested, they would be kept from going to work thus causing the country's economy to collapse. The police were fully informed before the demonstration to emphasize that this would be a peaceful protest. Yet, the police forces were armed and opened fire after claiming that they were provoked even though none of the journalists present could confirm this. Most victims were shot in the back, implying that they were trying to run to safety as they were killed (Boddy-Evans).

In 1976 over 10 000 students from the Soweto township gathered at their schools to participate in a peaceful protest demonstrating their dislike with the Bantu education system which imposed Afrikaans as the medium of instruction. They viewed this as the "language of the oppressor" and they weren't even fluent in it which negatively impacted their education. The students were marching on their way to the Orlando Soccer Stadium where a peaceful rally had been planned. En route, approximately 50 policemen tried to first disperse the children using tear gas and warning shots. Then, the police fired directly into the crowd (South Africa: Overcoming Apartheid).

In 1968, Biko co-founded the South African Student's Organization (Steve Biko),focusing on the resistance of apartheid. He was a strong leader working against the apartheid regime.

During the late 70's Steve Biko was arrested four times and detained for several months at a time. He was arrested and held in August 1977. In September he was found naked and shackled several miles away from where he was being imprisoned. The next day he was found dead due to a brain hemorrhage - due to injuries sustained while in police custody(Steve Biko).

In addition to helping with the Defiance Campaign in 1952, Nelson Mandela also went around the country promoting the Freedom Charter, and opened South Africa's first black law firm. He offered free or low-cost legal aid to those that had been affected by the apartheid legislation. Mandela was arrested in 1956 along with 155 other activists and were put on trial for treason. While they were acquitted in 1961, tension was rising. A militant group had split off from the African National Congress Party and the following year 69 peaceful protestors were killed by police forces in the Sharpeville massacre. Panic, anger and riots swept the country in its aftermath. Mandela decided it was time to try a more radical approach to end the apartheid rather than just passive resistance. Mandela had become the symbolic leader of the ani-apartheid movement(History.com Staff).

Along with Mandela was Oliver Tambo: an important figure of the African National Congress Party and an anti-apartheid politician

When Mandela was arrested for the Rivonia Trial in 1963, he escaped the gallows but was instead sentenced to imprisonment for life. Despite this, he remained the symbolic leader for South Africa's struggle to racial equality and in 1980 his friend Oliver Tambo introduced the "Free Mandela" Campaign. The Campaign made Mandela a household name and fueled the growing international outcry against South Africa's apartheid regime(History.com Staff).

The impact of Mandela's release reverberated throughout South Africa and the world. After speaking to throngs of supporters in Cape Town where he pledged to continue the struggle, but advocated peaceful change, Mandela took his message to the international media. He embarked on a world tour culminating in a visit to the United States where he spoke before a joint session of Congress(The End of Apartheid).

In April 1994, a historical moment, as Nelson Mandela was inaugarated as South Africa's first black president, marking the end of the apartheid regime in South Africa(The End of Apartheid).