Discuss the two main features of the apartheid state in South Africa?
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Jul 18
The two main features of the apartheid state in South Africa were racial segregation and institutionalized discrimination.
1. Racial segregation: Apartheid was a system of strict racial segregation that divided the population into four racial groups: White, Black, Coloured (mixed-race), and Indian. Each group was assigned different rights, privileges, and opportunities based on their race. Laws were put in place to enforce this segregation, including the Group Areas Act which designated specific areas for each racial group to live, work, and socialize in. This led to the creation of separate and unequal facilities and services for different racial groups, such as schools, hospitals, and public transportation.
2. Institutionalized discrimination: Apartheid was not just about physical separation, but also about the systematic discrimination and oppression of non-White South Africans. The government passed a series of laws that restricted the rights and freedoms of non-White individuals, such as the Population Registration Act which classified people by race at birth, the Pass Laws which required non-White individuals to carry identification documents at all times, and the Bantu Education Act which provided inferior education for Black students. Non-White individuals were also denied the right to vote, own land, or participate in certain professions. This institutionalized discrimination perpetuated a cycle of poverty and inequality for non-White South Africans, while maintaining the power and privilege of the White minority.