Grade 9 History: Turning Points in South African History Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms and definitions from the Grade 9 Social Sciences Term 3 History Learner Booklet on Turning Points in Modern South African History.

Multi-racialism

The involvement of more than one race.

Power-sharing

A government that consists of more than one party.

State of emergency

A disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures in order to regain control.

Apartheid

A policy that governed relations between South Africa's white minority and non-white majority and sanctioned racial segregation and political and economic discrimination.

Segregate

To keep separate.

Massacre

An indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of many people.

Protest movement

A public expression of objection, disapproval, or dissent towards an idea or action, typically a political one.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)

A special group that was tasked to ensure that South Africans exposed the truth about their deeds during apartheid with the intention to heal or reconcile.

Exile

Being banned and living away from your native country.

Resolution 134

A conclusion reached by the United Nations, after the killings at Sharpeville, that the South African government was disturbing world peace, that apartheid was cruel, and that the country should be sanctioned.

Sanction

An action where other countries end their economic and political relationships with South Africa ("cut off").

Commonwealth

The organization to which all British colonies belong.

Uprising

Actions taken against authorities, usually aggressive.

Repress

Using force to control and stop people from doing something.

Stay-away

The act of refusing to work, or staying away from your work.

Oppressed

Dominated or made to suffer.

Censorship

The removal of certain information considered offensive or a threat to security.

Prohibition

A law that stops something.

Rescinded

Officially cancelled.