The National Party government was all white during the 1940s, despite more than 80 percent of the population is black. After winning an election in 1948 the government immediately started implementing the country’s pre-existing laws of racial segregation believing their race was superior. People had to be registered to one of four racial groups and were forced to live in areas assigned to their race. In the Bantustans, black Africans were forced out of their homelands and thrown into poverty. Black people had separate schools, buses, and beaches. The African National Congress (ANC), the political party actively promoted African rights which were led in the 1950s by Nelson Mandela.  Black South Africans over the age of 16 were mandated to always carry passbooks everywhere under the Pass Laws Act of 1952. Which was implemented to divide the population, control urbanization, and distribute migrant workers. Males and females were unfairly arrested and tortured by the government under General Law Amendment Act.  In 1960 a massive peaceful protest at Sharpeville ended with police opening fire killing 69 people and 186 injured were shot in the back, and further protest followed. Activist groups like the ANC were considered illegal in South Africa after the massacre, which sparked protests throughout the world.

 In 1962 after 17 months in hiding Nelson Mandela was sent for a lifetime along with other imprisonments in Robben Island for opposing the apartheid system. The 1980s were the most brutal and vicious years of apartheid. Anti-apartheid activists joined forces to create the United Democratic Front, which marched and protested for equality and freedom. Police retaliated with tear gas, forcing hundreds to flee. In August 1989 South Africans launched a peaceful campaign to defy Apartheid laws. Cape Town’s campaign was the most successful, peaking just before the Tricameral elections on 6th September. As a result of brutal police actions on election night, 23 people were killed After the widespread support for petitions and campaigns calling for Mandela’s release, P.W. Botha had little to no choice but to engage in negotiations with black leaders. Mandela’s release was announced by F W DE Clerk in 1990, removing the restrictions on ANC and announcing a democratic constitution. 1994 marked the birth of the rainbow nation and a country of equality and peace.