Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial [[segregation]] and [[discrimination]] in South Africa that lasted from 1948 to 1994. The term "apartheid" comes from the Afrikaans word meaning "separateness" or "the state of being apart." Apartheid was implemented by the National Party, which came to power in South Africa in 1948. Under apartheid, the rights, associations, and movements of the majority black inhabitants and other ethnic groups were curtailed, and white minority rule was maintained. ## White minority rule The apartheid regime classified all South Africans at birth into racial groups—mainly Black African, White, Coloured (mixed race), and Indian/Asian. This classification determined where one could live, which schools one could attend, and who one could marry. Black Africans were further divided into tribal groups, each with its "homeland" where they were supposed to have political rights. These homelands, also known as Bantustans, were typically under-resourced and underdeveloped. Under apartheid, the government segregated education, medical care, and other public services, providing inferior services to non-Whites. The system included a series of laws that were designed to limit social and political interactions across racial lines, such as the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act and the Group Areas Act, which designated certain residential and business areas for different racial groups. ## Political repression Apartheid also involved a degree of political repression, with laws that banned opposition to the regime and its policies, and resulted in the imprisonment and other forms of punishment for many anti-apartheid activists. Resistance to apartheid within South Africa was vigorous and varied. The African National Congress (ANC), led by Nelson Mandela and other leaders, was at the forefront of the opposition to apartheid. The struggle against apartheid gained significant international attention and led to widespread sanctions and divestment abroad. Apartheid began to be dismantled in the mid-1980s under the pressure of internal resistance, international condemnation, and [economic](https://doctorparadox.net/category/economics/) sanctions. The process of ending apartheid accelerated in the early 1990s under President F.W. de Klerk, leading to multi-racial democratic elections in 1994, which were won by the ANC under the leadership of Nelson Mandela. The legacy of apartheid continues to shape South African society and politics. Despite significant progress since 1994, South Africa continues to grapple with the long-term effects of economic and educational disparities and social divisions caused by apartheid.