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Black Land Act
This was the first law to territoriality segregate and allocated only 7% of arable land to Africans. Land in these areas could not be bought by white people and land outside of these areas could not be sold to blacks. In addition to this to live outside of these areas you had to have proof of employment. This law predates Apartheid, but was one of the first major laws leading up to Apartheid.
https://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/native-land-act-passed -
Period: to
Apartheid
“South African History Online.” South African History Online, 13 Sept. 1989, www.sahistory.org.za/.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa Report. 1998, www.justice.gov.za/trc/report/finalreport/Volume%201.pdf. -
Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act
This law banned the marriage of any two people who were of different racial groups. It was one of the first laws passed during Apartheid, and started the Apartheid policy of separation between the races. It wasn't really something that happened much (on 0.23% of marriages were mixed) which many of the Petty Apartheid laws focus on things that weren't really important.
http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/prohibition-mixed-marriages-act-commences -
Population Registration Act of 1950
This act created the first race division system in South Africa. There were three race groups: White, Coloured, and Bantu. The National population Registry kept track of this and they would base their classifications of biological factors rather than their cultural history and tribal affiliation. The tests made no sense ("pencil test") and those from the same family could be considered two different races. -
Group Areas Act of 1950
This act made city centers, white only areas. The cities were not only segregated, but it made it illegal for non-whites to be in the city in the first place. This not just deprived them of the cities, but of the cities services as well. As many jobs were in the cities some continued to work there. The law also forced those who lived in the cities to leave (wanted to get rid of "black spots"). The allotted resettlement areas (townships) were overcrowded and dangerous. "Essence of Apartheid" -
Prevention of Illegal Squatting Act
If someone did not have permission or a lawful reason to be at a certain place then magistrates could destroy their home or force them out as the magistrate determined. This was extremely vague and was described as "prohibited persons from entering land or a building without lawful reason". -
Pass Laws
Changed the pass system in South Africa. The passes were now much larger and required more documentation. These passes and many documents had to be carried at all times by Africans. The passes had essentially everything about the person and would house the permits needed to do something as simple as look for a job or go to the city. Police could simply imprison or fine people if they did not have their pass in order without even needing a warrant. -
Bantu Education Act
The Bantu Education Act of 1953 made schools only admit one race. The education in these segregated schools was not the same for each race with whites getting the best education and black children getting the worst. The curriculum in the schools for black children taught just the basics with some technical training so that they could better preform the jobs that the whites needed them too, and would barely make the students literate. Were under the control of the Native Affairs Department. -
Criminal Law Amendment Act
This act "made civil disobedience punishable by a three-year jail sentence". The term civil disobedience was very loosely designed making there be a shockingly extreme punishment for a very subjective crime. -
Reservation of Separate Amenities Act 1953
Enforced strict segregation for any public amenities and was segregated by individual race. Places in cities could simply turn away non-whites even if there was no segregated place for them. Could be arrested and imprisoned if any other race used a whites only facility. Was part of petty Apartheid and was the peak of it. -
Immorality Act
The Immorality Act was an extension of the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages act from 1950. This extension not only prohibited relations and marriage between those of different races, but would act on tips. Police would enforce this law and would barge into peoples houses and search for evidence that something had happened. If they found anything at all it would be brought before the court and the blacks in question always had worse punishments. They wanted "purity" of the white race. -
Industrial Conciliation Further Amendment Act
This act banned strikes and lockouts for any reason. This was an addition to the first Industrial Conciliation Act which limited the type of jobs black people could have and prevented them from joining or forming their own unions. The original act was from 1924 and had been amended multiple times in between the two to further limit organization and job rights. -
Bantu Homelands Citizenship Act
This act forced any black person to become a citizen of one of the homelands that had been forcefully created. By being a citizen of one of these homelands they became aliens and lost their South African nationality, because the homelands were "self-governing". This made the black citizens lose rights that they should have been entitled too as South African citizens (section 10).
