In 1948, the National Party came to power in South Africa and introduced a form of racial segregation known as apartheid. This system of institutionalized racial discrimination aimed to separate and control the different racial groups in the country. The apartheid regime classified people into different racial groups, including white, black, colored, and Indian, and enforced strict laws that dictated where each group could live, work, and socialize. One of the key features of apartheid was the creation of separate residential areas for different racial groups. The Group Areas Act of 1950 designated specific areas for each racial group to live, resulting in the forced removal and relocation of millions of non-white people from their homes. This policy led to the establishment of racially segregated townships and suburbs, with the best resources and infrastructure reserved for white neighborhoods. Another aspect of apartheid was the implementation of pass laws, which required non-white South Africans to carry identification documents at all times and restricted their movement within the country. These laws were used to control the movement of black people and prevent them from entering urban areas without permission. Failure to produce a valid pass could result in arrest, imprisonment, or deportation. Education was also heavily segregated under apartheid, with different schools for each racial group. Non-white schools received far fewer resources and funding compared to white schools, perpetuating inequalities in access to quality education. The Bantu Education Act of 1953 further entrenched these disparities by providing a separate and inferior education system for black students, aimed at preparing them for a life of manual labor and servitude. The apartheid regime also imposed strict laws that restricted interracial marriage and relationships, as well as prohibiting social interactions between different racial groups. These laws were enforced through a system of racial classification known as the Population Registration Act, which assigned each individual a racial category based on physical appearance and ancestry. Overall, apartheid was a brutal and oppressive system that institutionalized racism and discrimination in every aspect of South African society. It was not until the early 1990s, with the end of apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela as the country's first black president, that South Africa began the long process of dismantling the legacy of racial segregation and striving towards a more inclusive and equal society.

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