Race, segregation and discrimination

• South Africa's population

  In 1948, the population consisted of 4 groups:

  • Black African people, the largest group
  • Coloured people, or descendants of mixed marriages
  • Asian people, mainly of Indian origin
  • White people, comprised of Afrikaans and English speakers
• SA population, 1946

  Black African - 7,830,559

  White - 2,372,044

  Coloured - 928,062

  Indian - 285,260
• Pass laws

  All black male migrant workers had to carry passes, a type of internal passport system. Each province issued its own passes so there was no centralised system until 1952.
• Native Land Act - 1913


  Land ownership limited to tribal reserves: 7% of total land in South Africa
• Urban Areas Act - 1923


  Must live in townships in white areas
• Native Trusts and Lands Acts

  Tribal reserves could be extended to 13.6% of total land area of South Africa
• Urbanisation and industrialisation

  Although mainly rural, white South Africa grew more urban and industrial as the 20th century developed. This was as a result in particular of the growth of the mining industry - gold, diamonds and precious metals. Elsewhere the South African economy remained mainly agricultural.
• African Urbanisation

  There was always a tension between the desire to prevent African people moving into areas reserved for white people and the need for cheap labour.

  By 1946, 23% of African people were living in urban areas - compared to 75% of white people, 61% of coloured people and 71% of Indian people.
• Township Life

  Transient workers lived either in single sex barracks or in townships. These were special settlements on the edge of urban areas, with basic homes for urban African workers. These were often overcrowded, insanitary and squalid and were to continue until the end of the apartheid period.
• Apartheid

  'Apartheid' is the word used to refer to the strict separation of different racial groups in SA at this time. In Afrikaans, the word means 'separate' or 'apartness'.