ClassX Video Lessons How did South African Apartheid happen, and how did it finally end? – Thula Simpson
On June 16, 1976, over 10,000 students took to the streets of Soweto, South Africa, to protest against the oppressive Apartheid regime. For 28 years, South Africans had been living under Apartheid, a harsh system of racial segregation that denied the Black majority access to well-paying jobs, quality education, and basic human rights. In 1974, the government mandated that schools teach many subjects in Afrikaans, a language associated with the white ruling class. The student protests were met with brutal force, as armed police officers opened fire, killing more than 150 students, some as young as 13.
Even before Apartheid officially began, South Africa had a long history of racial violence. Starting in the 1600s, Dutch and later British settlers colonized the region, displacing local populations from their ancestral lands. By the 20th century, Black Africans were confined to “native reserves,” which made up only 13% of the country’s land, despite representing 70% of the population. Many Black Africans migrated to white-controlled areas in search of work, often accepting low wages on farms and mines owned by whites.
By 1948, South Africa’s economy was booming, largely due to the exploitation of Black labor. Economists argued that a stable, educated, and urbanized African workforce was necessary for continued growth. However, the National Party, which won the 1948 elections, feared that such a workforce would threaten the white ruling class. They introduced Apartheid, meaning “separateness” in Afrikaans, and began forcibly relocating millions of Africans back to the reserves. Under Apartheid, Black workers were seen as temporary visitors in white areas, restricted to specific zones, and denied recognition for their trade unions. Mixed-race universities were abolished, mixed marriages were outlawed, and non-white populations were removed from the voters’ roll.
Within the government, Apartheid faced little opposition. However, outside, groups like the Communist Party, the African National Congress (ANC), and the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) led the resistance. Despite some ideological differences, these groups united to mobilize against Apartheid through non-violent means. The government’s response was harsh; in 1960, police massacred demonstrators at a PAC rally, leading to the banning of the ANC and PAC. These events radicalized anti-Apartheid leaders, and in 1961, Nelson Mandela and others formed an armed resistance wing.
During the 1960s, South Africa’s economy continued to grow, which the National Party attributed to Apartheid. However, this growth was due to further exploitation, as employers illegally hired Black laborers for jobs unwanted by whites. The government ignored this because the prosperity benefited the white minority. Meanwhile, the National Party used global anti-communist sentiment to vilify its opponents. In 1963, Mandela and others were tried for advancing communism and guerrilla warfare, resulting in life sentences for many leaders and forcing others into exile.
In the following decade, a new generation of student activists emerged, led by figures like Steve Biko and the South African Students Organization. After the Soweto Massacre, protests spread nationwide, but were met with violent suppression, resulting in over 600 deaths by early 1977. Biko’s death in police custody that year sparked international outrage, leading to calls for an end to Apartheid and trade embargoes against South Africa. The government attempted reforms, creating separate parliaments for different racial groups, but the exclusion of the African majority led to further unrest.
When F.W. de Klerk, a long-time supporter of Apartheid, became president in 1989, he realized that the policy had to end for white survival. On February 2, 1990, de Klerk made a historic announcement, unbanning the ANC, releasing Mandela, and initiating constitutional negotiations. Four years later, South Africa held its first all-inclusive elections, and Mandela became the country’s first Black president. Although Apartheid officially ended, its legacy continues to affect South Africa, with many wounds from that era still unhealed.
Engage in a role-playing debate where you represent different stakeholders during the Apartheid era, such as government officials, anti-Apartheid activists, and international observers. Prepare arguments based on historical facts and perspectives, and debate the merits and consequences of Apartheid policies. This will help you understand the complex motivations and challenges faced by different groups.
Create a detailed timeline of key events leading up to, during, and after the Apartheid era. Include significant protests, legislative changes, and international reactions. Use visuals and brief descriptions to illustrate the progression and impact of these events. This activity will help you visualize the historical context and sequence of events.
Watch a documentary about the Apartheid era, such as “Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony” or “Cry Freedom.” After viewing, participate in a guided discussion to analyze the documentary’s portrayal of events, the effectiveness of resistance movements, and the role of international pressure. This will deepen your understanding of the human stories behind the historical facts.
Conduct a research project on a key figure from the Apartheid era, such as Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, or F.W. de Klerk. Present your findings to the class, focusing on their contributions, challenges, and legacy. This will help you appreciate the personal sacrifices and leadership qualities that influenced the course of history.
Write a fictional diary entry or letter from the perspective of a student protester during the Soweto Uprising. Use historical details to convey the emotions, motivations, and experiences of those involved. This activity will allow you to empathize with individuals who lived through this tumultuous period and understand the personal impact of Apartheid policies.
On June 16, 1976, over 10,000 student protesters flooded the streets of Soweto, South Africa. For 28 years, South Africans had been living under Apartheid, a strict policy of segregation that barred the country’s Black majority from skilled, high-paying jobs, quality education, and much more. In 1974, the government announced that schools would be required to teach many subjects in Afrikaans—a language primarily used by the nation’s white ruling elites. When protesters rose up to fight this injustice, the government’s response was swift. Armed police officers turned their weapons on the crowd, and over the following days, they killed more than 150 students, including victims as young as 13.
Even before Apartheid, South Africa’s long history of racial violence had already cost countless Black Africans their jobs, homes, and lives. Beginning in the 1600s, first Dutch and later British settlers colonized the nation, displacing local populations from their ancestral lands. Over the following centuries, Black Africans were segregated onto so-called native reserves; by the 20th century, this meant that 70% of the population was living on roughly 13% of the country’s land. Deprived of their traditional livelihoods and seeking to escape these overpopulated regions, Black Africans began migrating to white-controlled areas. There, they worked for low wages on white-owned farms and mines, alongside the descendants of enslaved and indentured workers from across Africa and Asia.
By 1948, this exploited labor force was a primary driver of South Africa’s booming economy. However, economists argued that continued growth required a stable, educated, and urbanized African labor force. The ruling United Party accepted this logic, but the rival National Party argued that such a workforce would threaten the white ruling class. Naming their campaign Apartheid, the Afrikaans word for “separateness,” the National Party won the 1948 elections. Once in power, they began forcibly relocating millions of Africans back to the reserves. Under Apartheid, Black workers were considered temporary visitors in white areas. They were restricted to specific zones, and their trade unions received no official recognition. The government also abolished mixed-race universities, outlawed mixed marriages, segregated recreational spaces, and purged the non-white population from the voters’ roll.
Within parliament at this time, Apartheid only had a small group of outspoken opponents. However, outside the government, three political groups were leading a popular resistance against the regime: the Communist Party, which was legally banned in 1950, their allies in the African National Congress (ANC), and later, a splinter group called the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC). Despite some ideological differences, all three groups worked to mobilize the masses against Apartheid through non-violent methods. However, the National Party was not as restrained. On March 21, 1960, police officers massacred demonstrators at a PAC rally, and within weeks, the ANC and PAC were outlawed. These events radicalized anti-Apartheid leaders, and in December of 1961, Nelson Mandela and other ANC and Communist Party activists established the resistance’s armed wing.
While the conflict grew increasingly violent, the 1960s saw consistent economic growth throughout South Africa. The National Party attributed this to the success of Apartheid, but it was actually due to further exploitation. Employers were illegally hiring Black laborers for positions affluent white workers didn’t want to fill. Since this prosperity was flowing disproportionately to the ruling white minority, the government happily turned a blind eye. Meanwhile, the National Party leveraged global anti-communist sentiment to demonize its adversaries. In 1963, they tried Mandela and ten others for advancing communism and training recruits in guerrilla warfare. Eight of the defendants were sentenced to life in prison, and many remaining anti-Apartheid leaders were forced into exile.
Over the next decade, a generation of student activists rose up to continue the fight, led in part by Steve Biko and the South African Students Organization. Following the Soweto Massacre, student protesters spread nationwide. However, police violently suppressed these demonstrations, killing over 600 protesters by early 1977. That same year, Biko was taken into police custody and died in a brutal assault. In response to this violence, the international community finally called for an end to Apartheid, with some countries enacting trade embargoes against South Africa. The state attempted to launch a reform process, creating separate parliaments for the country’s white, non-white, and Indian populations. However, the exclusion of the African majority led to more nationwide rioting.
When F.W. de Klerk, a long-time supporter of Apartheid, came to power in 1989, he concluded that the only way to ensure white survival was to end the policy. On February 2, 1990, de Klerk shocked the world by unbanning the ANC, releasing Mandela, and calling for constitutional negotiations. Four years later, in the nation’s inaugural all-inclusive elections, Mandela became South Africa’s first Black president. However, today, the national trauma of Apartheid can still be keenly felt, and many wounds from this period have yet to fully heal.
Apartheid – A policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race, specifically in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. – The apartheid regime in South Africa enforced racial discrimination and led to international condemnation and sanctions.
Segregation – The enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment. – Segregation laws in the United States, known as Jim Crow laws, mandated the separation of African Americans from whites in public spaces until the mid-20th century.
Resistance – The refusal to accept or comply with something; the attempt to prevent something by action or argument. – The French Resistance played a crucial role in undermining Nazi occupation during World War II.
Protest – A statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something. – The Civil Rights Movement in the United States was marked by numerous protests against racial injustice, including the famous March on Washington in 1963.
Violence – Behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. – The violence during the French Revolution led to the fall of the monarchy and the rise of radical political change.
Economy – The wealth and resources of a country or region, especially in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services. – The Great Depression of the 1930s was a severe worldwide economic downturn that had profound effects on the global economy.
Labor – Work, especially physical work, done for wages. – The Industrial Revolution dramatically changed labor conditions, leading to the rise of factories and the need for labor reforms.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. – The Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case in 1954 declared the segregation of public schools unconstitutional, transforming the education system in the United States.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Understanding history is crucial for learning from past mistakes and shaping a better future.
Rights – Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people. – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, outlines the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled.
