Racial segregation in South Africa was introduced by the National Party, which came into power in 1948. The National Party implemented a policy known as apartheid, which aimed to separate different racial groups in all aspects of life, including housing, education, and healthcare.

Under apartheid, the white minority had superior rights and privileges, while the black majority faced discrimination and oppression. Laws were put in place to enforce segregation, such as the Group Areas Act, which designated specific areas for different racial groups to live in. This led to the forced removal of black South Africans from their homes and communities.

One of the most infamous aspects of apartheid was the pass laws, which required black South Africans to carry identification documents at all times and restricted their movement within the country. This system of racial segregation created a deeply unequal society, with white South Africans benefiting from economic and social advantages at the expense of black South Africans.

The introduction of apartheid by the National Party sparked widespread resistance and protest from black South Africans, as well as condemnation from the international community. Organizations such as the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) led campaigns against apartheid, calling for equal rights and an end to racial discrimination.

It was not until the early 1990s that apartheid began to be dismantled, following years of international pressure and internal resistance. In 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected as the first black president of South Africa in the country's first fully democratic elections, marking the official end of apartheid.

Today, South Africa continues to grapple with the legacy of apartheid and the deep divisions it created within society. Efforts are being made to address the inequalities and injustices of the past, but the effects of racial segregation are still felt by many South Africans today.

For more information on the history of apartheid in South Africa, you can visit the following websites:

• South African History Online
• BBC News - Apartheid in South Africa

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