Jannine Aird 10F

Devonport High School for Girls – 54419

History Coursework Notes

South Africa 1948-1994

Topics: The Sharpeville Massacre (1960)

          The Collapse of the white minority rule (1994)

How did the White South Africans discriminate against Black South Africans in the period 1900-1947?

Politics: In 1936, Black South Africans lost the vote in the Cape region. In all other areas, they did not have the right to vote in the first place. However, they could elect 3 White representatives. Sex was banned between the White & Black South Africans to keep the racial purity or white supremacy. Black South Africans also had to pay poll tax on their incomes so that they would remain dependant on the Whites. The 1913 Native Land Act – 93% of land was white owned. This ensured legal segregation & poverty. Black South Africans became landless cheap labour.

Join now!

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 ...

This is a preview of the whole essay