Following the election of the National Party to power in 1948 in South Africa, the apartheid regime, which was a system of racial segregation, was put into place in that country. Discrimination against South Africa's black majority and other racial minorities, such as Indians and Coloreds, was institutionalized under the apartheid administration.
The discovery of diamonds and gold in South Africa in the late 19th century led to an influx of European settlers, which in turn led to the beginning of apartheid in the country. These discoveries were made in South Africa. White settlers, who made up a small fraction of the population at the time, were in the minority in the country, but they were the ones who imposed laws that promoted their own interests and disadvantaged the black population.
The goal to preserve white supremacy and to safeguard the financial and political interests of the white minority was one of the primary motivating factors behind the implementation of apartheid. The National Party, which was the party that won the election that put them in power in 1948, held the belief that people of different races need to be segregated and that whites ought to be privileged over blacks. In order to accomplish this, they enacted a number of discriminatory regulations, one of which was the Group Areas Act, which established distinct regions in which people of different racial groups were required to reside.
Fear and mistrust between the various racial groups in South Africa was another important factor that contributed to the rise of apartheid. This was a key factor that contributed to the rise of apartheid. In particular, the white minority held the belief that in order to preserve their own power and privileges, the black majority had to be kept under control. This fear was particularly prevalent among the white minority.
In addition, the apartheid regime enjoyed the support of the international community. This was due to the fact that many nations viewed it as a method by which they could preserve the status quo in South Africa and safeguard their own economic interests in the nation. On the other hand, as time went on, the level of worldwide opposition to the apartheid regime increased, and South Africa became progressively marginalized on the stage of global politics.
After decades of opposition from the black majority and pressure from the international community, the apartheid regime was finally overthrown in the 1990s. In 1994, the country held its first elections under democratic rules, and Nelson Mandela won the election to become the country's first black president. The end of apartheid ushered in a new era for South Africa, but it also left a legacy of inequality and injustice that persists to this day and continues to affect the country.