In 1948, the South African Government had the system apartheid which was the state system of Institutionalized Racial Segregation and Discrimination. Under apartheid 73% of South Africa's population was denied fundamental rights and liberties. South Africa was also divided into separate groups: Black, White, and Indian. This system was enforced by a number of laws, the most important one was the Population Registration Act of 1950, divided South Africa's population into racial categories. "Identity cards" were also issued to identify what racial category you belonged to. South Africa's land was divided into White Areas and African Reserves. South Africa's land was divided into white areas and African reserves.
 Another law, The Group Areas Act of 1950, was made to divide the people living in South Africa who were not white (Indian, and African) into different living areas. The African population was further divided in an "ethnic" basis within the residential areas that were set aside for them by the Whites. Ten "Homelands" were given to the Africans, these lands were very hot and arid. Even though the Africans outnumbered the whites four to one, they did not fight back back or argue about being placed in these so called "Homelands". The UN and the Security Council said that the Apartheid in South Africa wasn't good for the UN Charter. The UN General Assembly also declared the apartheid in South Africa a crime against humanity. The UN organs all said that something should be done as soon as possible to stop the Apartheid in South Africa. |