Apartheid was a system of racial discrimination and segregation that was unique to South Africa and was imposed by the white Europeans settled in South Africa. This system divided people and labelled them as whites and non-whites on the basis of their skin colour. It was practised in South Africa between 1948-1994 by the white minority government over the native population. The policies under the apartheid system were:

• Population Registration Act: This act was passed in 1950, which classified all South Africans as either Bantu (all Black Africans), Coloured (those of mixed race), or white. A fourth category—Asian (Indian and Pakistani)—was later added.

• Group Areas Act: This act established residential and business sections in urban areas for each race, and members of other races were barred from living, operating businesses, or owning land in them.

• Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act: This act prohibited marriages between non-whites and whites.

• Pass Laws: Black people had to carry special passes or have permission to travel outside their designated area.

• Separate Amenities Act: This act enforced the segregation of public facilities such as hospitals, schools, and public transportation.

The apartheid system was abolished in 1994, when a new constitution was ratified which abolished the previous system of segregation.