The "Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act" refers to a legislative act implemented in the Republic of South Africa during the apartheid era, which lasted from 1948 to 1994. This act, passed in 1949, was part of the broader segregationist and racist policies of apartheid that aimed to enforce racial divisions and prevent interracial relationships.
The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act was specifically designed to prohibit and criminalize marriages and relationships between people of different races. The act outlined that it was unlawful for a person classified as "White" to marry a person classified as "non-White," which included individuals from different racial backgrounds like Black, Indian, or Colored. The law not only banned interracial marriages but also rendered such marriages invalid and illegal.
Moreover, the act imposed severe penalties, including fines, imprisonment, or both, for those who violated the law by entering into or promoting mixed marriages. It also authorized the Minister of the Interior to prevent interracial marriages through the power of prohibition certificates.
The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act served as a cornerstone of the apartheid regime's oppressive laws, aiming to maintain racial segregation, preserve white supremacy, and control the social and sexual relationships of individuals classified into separate racial groups. This act, along with others such as the Immorality Act, played a significant role in perpetuating racial discrimination, inequality, and division within South African society during apartheid.
