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Black Land Act No 27
Bantu Land Act: This act ensured the dominance of white people of colored people in South Africa. This legislation prevented colored people from competing with other white farmers for workers and jobs. This act legally stated that the colored black people (more than 80 percent of the country) were not part of the country of South Africa. This established and began the inception of many horrible actions and laws in the near future. -
Black (Native) Administration Act No 38
This act granted permission to remove any colored people 'whenever he deemed it expedient in the public interest.' This act was used greatly as a reason to remove colored people. It was very significant because it was a main factor to the great numbers of forced removals during the times. It also affected other racial groups other than just colored people, which had a greater impact on the number of people that were removed forcefully. -
Black (Native) Laws Amendment Act No 46
This act stated that Blacks could not own land unless they had consent from the Governor-General. This was significant because it limited the freedom of the colored people and they couldn't have a reliable source of income. This meant they had to go work at urban areas where apartheid legislation was very strict. This restricted the lives of colored people significantly. -
Natives (Urban Areas) Consolidation Act No 25
This act only applied to colored males. Stated that people in urban areas who were living dissolute or idle lives in the city could be forced to be removed from the areas they live. This was significant because it caused the influx of forced removals of Africans. It added another reason Africans could be removed from urban areas. By adding crazy amounts of laws towards colored people, the government could easily remove any person they want without much justification or reason. -
Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act No 55
This act prevent colored people from marrying people outside of their classification. This act was significant because it was one of the first acts that intruded the colored people's personal life which indirectly affected their future. -
Population Registration Act No 30
This act required newly born people in the country to be categorized in different racial groups. The determination of the groups were very subjective and bias. If one was categorized as colored, many of their rights were limited. This act was important because it was much more explicit and rigid than past laws alike. -
Prevention of Illegal Squatting Act No 52
This act stated that colored people could not be in any given building or land without a reason or consent from the owner. Magistrates, or civil workers, were legally allowed to kick them out of the building or demolish their homes and remove them out of the area.
This act was another addition of an unnecessary laws (petty apartheid law). This law further limited the colored people's rights and freedom in urban white-only areas. This caused more violence and tensions around South Africa. -
Black (Native) Laws Amendment Act No 54
This act was passed due to the Urban Areas Consolidation Act back in 1945. It set specific requirements for colored people to live as residents in urban areas for work. The person would have had to be born there and lived there for 15 years or work there for 15 years.
This caused a lot of tension and increased the amount of forced removals in the surrounding urban areas. Because there were so many colored workers that did not meet the requirements, many were transferred and kicked out. -
Black Labour Relations Regulation Act (Black Labour and Settlement of Disputes Act) No 48
This act stated that Africans could not participate in Union Organizations. Also, this law prevented colored people to participate in strikes and lock-outs.
This act officially limited the freedom of speech for the Africans and colored people. By passing this law, the government and its soldiers could be justified in killing, wounding, or arresting colored people who were striking or participating in illegal organizations. -
Unlawful Organisations Act No 34
Stated that organizations that threatened the safety of the public will be considered unlawful. This law labeled the ANC and PAC (South African Peace and Labor Organizations) unlawful and illegal.
The significance of this passed act is that it limited the organizations that held protests. This act was the spark to harsher legislation in the future such as the General Law Amendment Act No 76. This act also lead to devastating riots like the one in Sharpville. This caused controversy and tension.
