Daily Life: Black South Africans were banned from White hospitals, schools, universities, public toilets etc.
Work: Poorly qualified Black South Africans had low paid jobs such as miners, servants, cleaners, farm & factory workers. Wage discrimination – Skilled black worker was paid 10% of what a skilled white worker was paid. This was to keep the black population poor. Blacks couldn’t afford to buy food, clothes or to pay house rent.
Business: White South Africans owned all the businesses. That meant the wealth was concentrated into the hands of a minority. This also ensured that the Black community remained poor.
Education: A good education will lead to better jobs for most people. But Black South Africans found themselves being badly educated & prepared for low paid jobs. A few Black South Africans were well educated.
Housing: Poor quality housing kept the Black community poor. Lack of running water, electricity & basic amenities increased levels of disease & the Black dependency on the White community.
A FLOWCHART EXAMINING THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY DISCRIMINATION
White settlers from Holland, Germany and the UK colonised parts of Southern Africa. They fought for control of the region & all believed that they were civilising the existing Black communities. The Dutch settlers believed that the Black community were racially inferior. Eventually the Boer War of 1899-1902 resulted in a British victory & in theory better rights for the Black community. The majority of White voters were Dutch & they determined the political pattern in the 20th Century. They wanted to protect their right.
The White community needed cheap labour on farms, in the mines & in domestic service. Many members of the White community feared that the Black community might try to seize White property & job. Some members of the White community were convinced that racism was morally acceptable.
Solution
Discrimination of different types
Crisis Point 1945
Should South Africa become more or less racist?
South Africa needed skilled workers by the 1940’s. Racism meant that black workers were not available. To solve the work force problem, it became necessary to allow Black workers to live in townships near White communities. The Government argued that segregation may have to end & Black workers should be allowed to live in White areas. This policy would have eventually ended racism in South Africa.
In 1948, the purified National Party, led by Dr. Daniel Malan won the General Election in South Africa. Dr. Malan’s party proposed to toughen up segregation & stop Black workers settling in White towns & competing for White jobs. He set out his ideas in the Sauer Report & came up with the term Apartheid – meaning separate racial development.