South Africa Acts: 1910-1936/1949-1954

Definitions for important acts.

Mines and Works Act

1911- skilled jobs in mines reserved for white people

Natives Labour Registration Act

1911- working conditions for black people,

to be recruited in rural areas,

fingerprinted,

and given pass-books for area of work (part of pass laws)

Natives Land Act

1913- <7% of land in South Africa,

forced to work for white farmers or leave for temporary jobs in cities/mines (therefore homelands overcrowded eg Transkei)

Natives (Urban Areas) Act

1923- only to serve white people (eg as servants),

industrial/miners to live in townships, left after contracts ended

Industrial Conciliation Act

1924- restricted employee rights,

negotiations, and trade unions

Native Administration Act

1927- est DoNative Affairs, separated black people from general population in law,

no civil rights

Native Trust and Land Act

1936- tribal reserves increased to 13.6%,

not allowed to buy elsewhere

Representation of the Native Act

1936- removed equal voting rights,

no rights of permanent residence (Cape),

Native Representative Council est

Prohibition of mixed marriages and Immorality act

1949- interracial marriage/sex illegal.

White people punished for sex (less severely)

Population Registration act

1950- designated ethnicity (Black/White/Coloured/Indian)- issued with ID cards.

(1964+67 amendments- focus on appearance and genealogy, esp for light skinned people)

Group Areas Act

1950- allocate areas for one specific ethnic group, others forcibly removed

(1m to Bantustans)

Suppression of Communism

1950- could imprison anyone

banning orders on groups/individuals (no contact for 5yrs)

Bantu Authorities Act

1951- reasserted 1911-36 tribal reserves as only place black people were entitled to live,

abolished Native Representation Council as black people were considered foreigners,

reserves to be governed by tribal leaders chosen by govt,

increased residential segregation

Pass laws: Native Laws Amendment Act

1952- replace passes with standardised, national reference books

included women and had to be always carried

could not remain in an urban area 70hrs after permit expire

could only stay in urban areas if born there/lived 15+ years/same employer 10+ years

Bantu Education Act

1953- control of education from the Min of Education to Min for Native Affairs

end of state subsidies for mission schools

expanded govt education- limitted, vocational curricula

Public Safety Act

1953- govt to call state of emergency for 1 year and renew indefintely

Criminal Law Amendment Act

1953- accompanying someone found guilty automatically assumed guilty

Censorship Acts

1955/1956- banned any criticism in reports/literature imported into South Africa

Bantu Self Government Act

1958- basis for creation of 8 bantustans