Democracy:

A democracy means that all the people of a country have the right to choose who their leaders will be . People choose their leaders by voting for them. In a democracy, the leaders with the most votes form the largest part of the government.

The first democratic government in south Africa 1994.

For many years, South Africa was ruled by a government that was not democratic. Most of the people in South Africa were not allowed to vote. They also did not have many other rights.

Many people fought against the unfair apartheid government in different ways. The apartheid government tried to stop them. These people were tortured and put in jail. Some were forced to leave the country. Many people also lost their lives.

Finally, in 1994, South Africa held its first democratic elections. This meant that all adult citizens of South Africa now had the right to choose who they wanted as leaders.

`New words:

• Democracy - a government system where everyone has the right to vote to elect the leaders.

• Voting - choosing a leader by marking a mark on a voting form on a specific day.

• Government - leaders of a country who make and carry out the rules and laws of the country.

• Democratic elections - a free and fair process through which all adult citizens have the right to vote.

• Citizens - people of a country

• political party - A group of people who have similar ideas about how a country should be run.

• Ballot paper - A form given to a voter on witch to mark witch party they are voting for.

• Constitution - Laws to protect people’s rights that everyone in the country must obey.

• Parliament - The branches of the government responsible for making the laws of the country.

• Violate - Treat something badly or without respect.

• Justice system - The police and the courts of the law where people are judged.

• Justice - what is fair and correct according to law.

• Rights - things that people are allowed to do or have.

• Responsibilities - things that people are expected to do.

From apartheid to democracy:

In 1948 , the south african goverment under D.F Malan made apartheid a law . The purpose of this law was to separate and discriminate {favour one race above the other.} This started as far back as 1913 , when a land act was passed so that 13% of South Africa’s land was allocated to black people who made up 80% of the population.

From 1948 Apartheid acts were passed which included some of the following:

1. Prohibition of mixed marriage act:

   Disallowed marriages between white and non - white people.

2. Immorality amendment act:

   Disallowed adultery between white and non - white persons.

3. Population registration act:

   Required every south African to be racially classified.

4. Group Areas act:

   Forced separation by creating separate residential areas for different race groups.

5. Bantu Education act:

   The aim of this law was to prevent black people from receiving and education that would allow them to work in positions that they were not allowed to hold. They were taught in afrikaans in order to understand the instructions of their bosses.

6. Reservation of separate amenities act:

   All public areas , buildings and transport were segregated.

7. Natives [prohibition of interdicts} act:

This denied blacks the right to appeal to the courts if they were forcefully removed.

South african government:

Brach 1: Legislature - makes the laws. {cape town}

Brach 2 : Executive - makes decisions using the laws. {Pretoria}

Branch 3 : Judiciary - makes sure the country’s laws are obeyed. {Bloemfontein}