Question

• When South Africa become independent? Briefly describe the factors that led the people of South Africa to launch political struggle for independence.​​​​​​​

Answer 1

Dear student,

South Africa became an independent democratic country in the year 1994, when the Republic of South Africa was born.

The policy of apartheid was the main factor that led the people of South Africa to launch political struggle for independence. Apartheid is a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.The apartheid system was particularly oppressive for the blacks in South Africa. Though they were the natives and were the majority, yet they were forbidden from living in white areas. They could work in white areas only if they had a permit. Trains, buses, taxis, hotels, hospitals, schools and colleges, libraries, cinema halls, theatres, beaches, swimming pools public toilets, were all separate for the whites and blacks. This was called segregation.

They could not even visit the churches where the whites worshipped. Blacks could not form associations or protest against the terrible treatment. It was abolished in South Africa officially in 1990 with repeal of the last of the remaining Apartheid laws, the end of Apartheid mainly gained prominence from the 1994 democratic general elections. This was followed by the drafting of the new Constitution of the country thus restoring democracy in South Africa.

Regards.