The spelling of the term "apartheid regime" can be a bit tricky, as it includes a combination of sounds from different languages. "Apartheid" comes from Afrikaans (a language spoken in South Africa), and is pronounced /əˈpɑrteɪt/. The "r" sound is rolled slightly, and the stress is on the second syllable. "Regime" comes from French, and is pronounced /rɪˈʒiːm/. The stress is on the first syllable, and the "g" is pronounced softly as a "zh" sound. Together, the term is pronounced /əˈpɑrteɪt rɪˈʒiːm/.
Apartheid regime refers to a discriminatory system of governance that was established in South Africa between 1948 and 1994. Derived from the Afrikaans word for "apartness," apartheid was a policy of racial segregation and discrimination that enforced strict separation between different racial groups, primarily targeting black South Africans.
Under the apartheid regime, various laws were enacted to ensure the systematic oppression and control of the black majority. These laws categorized individuals into racial groups based on their appearance and ancestry. The regime created a hierarchy in which white South Africans enjoyed political, economic, and social privileges, while non-white individuals were marginalized and deprived of their basic rights.
The apartheid regime implemented a wide range of segregationist measures, including the forced removals of non-whites from their homes and the establishment of separate public facilities, such as schools, hospitals, and residential areas. Non-white individuals were subjected to discriminatory laws that limited their movement, restricted their access to education and employment, and denied them the right to vote or participate in the political process.
Apartheid was widely condemned both domestically and internationally due to its blatant racism and violation of human rights. The regime faced significant resistance from various anti-apartheid movements, including the African National Congress (ANC), which played a crucial role in advocating for racial equality and eventually leading to the dismantling of apartheid in the early 1990s.
The word "apartheid" originates from Afrikaans, a West Germanic language predominantly spoken in South Africa. It is derived from the Dutch word "apart", meaning "separate", and the suffix "-heid", meaning "hood" or "state of". The term was first used in the South African political context during the mid-20th century to describe the system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the National Party government in South Africa. The apartheid regime, which lasted from 1948 to 1994, implemented strict laws to enforce racial separation and unequal treatment of different racial groups in the country. The term "apartheid regime" refers specifically to the government and policies that upheld this system.