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Black Land Act No. 27
This is the first major legislation passed by the South African government. This act prohibited nonwhites from buying or owning land outside of their reserves, and also made it illegal for whites to buy land from nonwhites. The Black Land Act of 1913 kept blacks entrapped in only 7% of South Africa’s land which led to widespread poverty in black reserves. -
Native (Black) Urban Areas Act No. 21
This Act clearly divided South Africa into rural and urban areas. Additionally, it implemented harsher measures by establishing local authorities in each rural area to “supervise” the blacks. As a result, there was significant tension between the authorities and the inhabitants which often led to violence. -
Black (Native) Administration Act No 38
Through this act, the South African government had complete regulation of black movement and influx. The government now could mandate tribes and individual blacks to be relocated to other parts of South Africa. -
Immorality Act No. 5
The Immorality Act prohibited extra-marital intercourse between blacks and whites. In 1950, this law included coloureds and Asians. This Act exemplifies how interventionist the government was in the lives of nonwhites. -
Representation of Blacks Act No 12
This legislation removed black representation from the government. Essentially, it alienated black voters from the common roll and gave them their own representation on a separate roll. This treatment is indicative of a “separate but equal” philosophy that was obviously unjust. -
Natives (Urban Areas) Consolidation Act No 25
This law strengthened black influx control, specifically to black males. The government had the right to judge whether or not people were leading “idle or dissolute lives” and had the right to evict these people from urban areas. This showed the total government control that the government had over people’s living situations. -
Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act No 55
This act prohibited mixed marriages entirely. This is significant because it further strengthened the intervention of the government in the social lives of blacks. -
Population Registration Act No 30
The Population Registration Act required people to classify themselves as certain ethnic groups. Doing so divided the black population even further into distinct parts which demonstrates a very rigid system of racial classification in South Africa. -
Criminal Law Amendment Act No 8
This law criminalized civil disobedience and enforced such actions through sentencing. Therefore, this amendment greatly suppressed the black consciousness movement and sought to prevent the black community from unifying and protesting. -
Unlawful Organizations Act No 34
Like the Criminal Law Amendment Act, this law oppressed the black consciousness movement by declaring certain organizations unlawful in the name of “public safety.” Many influential black organizations and governing bodies were declared illegal, such as the African National Congress. This, of course, was a huge violation of the black right of expression and representation and shows the severe immorality of Apartheid.
