Apartheid regulation is a term used to describe the set of laws and policies that enforced racial segregation in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. The word apartheid is spelled /əˈpɑːtaɪt/, with the stress on the second syllable. The phonetic transcription shows that the initial 'a' is pronounced as a schwa sound, the 'p' is aspirated, and the final 't' is pronounced with a glottal stop. The spelling of apartheid regulation is straightforward, with the added word "regulation" indicating a specific policy or law within the system of apartheid.
Apartheid regulation refers to a set of laws, regulations, and policies that were put in place in South Africa between 1948 and 1994 to establish and enforce the system of racial segregation known as apartheid. Apartheid was designed to separate different racial groups, primarily the White minority and non-White majority, and to grant preferential treatment and privileges to the White population.
These regulations were instrumental in creating a strict hierarchy that classified individuals into racial categories, primarily based on the color of their skin. The laws covered various aspects of life, including housing, employment, education, and public services. Apartheid policies sought to enforce racial separation by legalizing racial discrimination, limiting social mobility of non-White individuals, and reinforcing socio-economic disparities among different racial groups.
The regulations imposed severe restrictions on non-White individuals, denying them basic rights, such as the right to vote, freedom of movement, and equal access to public services. Under apartheid regulation, different races were assigned separate residential areas, educational institutions, and medical facilities, perpetuating racial segregation on a systematic and institutionalized level.
These laws and policies were widely criticized both domestically and internationally for their racially discriminatory nature and violation of human rights. The apartheid regulation system was eventually dismantled with the end of apartheid in 1994, leading to the establishment of a democratic and non-racial South Africa. Today, the apartheid era serves as a crucial historical reminder of the importance of equality, justice, and the fight against racial discrimination worldwide.
The term "apartheid" has its origins in Afrikaans, which is derived from Dutch. "Apartheid" literally translates to "apartness" or "separateness" in Afrikaans. It was first used in South Africa to describe the system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced through legislation from 1948 to 1994.
The word "regulation" comes from the Latin word "regula", meaning "rule" or "straight edge". It entered the English language in the early 17th century, referring to the act of regulating or controlling something through rules or laws.
So, the phrase "apartheid regulation" combines the Afrikaans term "apartheid", referring to the system of racial segregation, with the English term "regulation", signifying the rules and laws that were implemented to enforce and maintain that system in South Africa.