Chapter 2: Impact of Apartheid on different groups

Black South Africans - Politically

1. Politically alienated

- Couldn't vote or participate in national government

- forced into homelands and bantustans, especially under verwoerd, some losing SA citizenship

- Black political organisation like the ANC and PAC were banned, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned

Black SA - Residence

2. Forced removals:

- Group areas act: 3.5 million people had to leave their homes e.g Sophiatown, 60,000 in district 6

- Families broken up

- Between 1960-1980 1.1 million black people were removed from white farms and 1.6 million from urban areas

Black SA - Economically

- Denied access to skilled jobs through job reservation system

- Earned far less that white workers and were cheap labour

- Limited access to education under Verwoerd's Bantu education act, white schools: 8x more funding

Black SA - everyday life

- Constant surveillance, arrests and harassment

- Pass laws restricted movement, 385,000 arrested in 1965 alone for not carrying passes

- Dignity and identity were undermined

White SA

1. Privilege and opportunity:

- Full political control, citizenship and representation

- Access to best education, healthcare and jobs

2. Security and international politics

- Lived in a highly militarised society with growing paranoia about "the communist threat."

- White men were conscripted into the army for extended service, especially under Vorster during unrest in the 1970s.

- Increasing global isolation because of boycotts and condemnation: sports, goods, economic sanctions

3. Moral

- Lots of whites grew up indoctrinated and taught white supremacy -> leading to future guilt and denial

- Some whites opposed apartheid but faced state repression (Helen Suzman)

Indian SA - Politics

1. Political exclusion

- No political representation at the national level until the late 1980s.

- Not allowed to vote or hold meaningful political office during Verwoerd and Vorster's time.

Indian SA - Economic and resident

- Forced removals from mixed areas (e.g., in Durban).

- Restricted to living in designated "Indian" zones like Phoenix and Chatsworth.

- Many were businesspeople and faced limitations on trading rights and movement.

Indian SA - Education and employment

- Access to education was better than for Black south africans, but still underfunded compared to Whites.

- Excluded from high-level employment in state and many private institutions.

- Indian languages and cultural practices were suppressed and discouraged in school and public

- Communities had to self fund cultural and religious life