The South African Government Justifies Apartheid

When the Union of South Africa was established as a quasi-autonomous dominion of the British Empire in 1910, its legal and political system embraced the policies of segregation and disenfranchisement of nonwhites that had flourished in colonial times. Not until the 1948 South African parliamentary election, however, did the formal system of apartheid, or “separation,” become official state policy. Inhabitants of South Africa were strictly defined according to government racial criteria that determined where they could live, whom they could marry or have sexual relationships with, what they could study, and whether they were in fact citizens. The resulting system of white supremacy emphasized the threat of decolonization and the need for unity among the white minority. Several points in the government’s policy are laid out here in this 1948 government proclamation, as catalogued by the United Nations.

There are two sections of thought in South Africa in regard to the policy affecting the non-European community.1 On the one hand there is the policy of equality, which advocates equal rights within the same political structure for all civilized and educated persons, irrespective of race or color, and the gradual granting of the franchise to non-Europeans as they become qualified to make use of democratic rights.

On the other hand there is the policy of separation (apartheid) which has grown from the experience of established European population of the country, and which is based on the Christian principles of Justice and reasonableness.

Its aim is the maintenance and protection of the European population of the country as a pure White race, the maintenance and protection of the indigenous racial groups as separate communities, with prospects of developing into self-supporting communities within their own areas, and the stimulation of national pride, self-respect, and mutual respect among the various races of the country.

We can act in only one of two directions. Either we must follow the course of equality, which must eventually mean national suicide for the White race, or we must take the course of separation (apartheid) through which the character and the future of every race will be protected and safeguarded with full opportunities for development and self-maintenance in their own ideas, without the interests of one clashing with the interests of the other, and without one regarding the development of the other as undermining or a threat to himself.

The party therefore undertakes to protect the White race properly and effectively against any policy, doctrine or attack which might undermine or threaten its continued existence. At the same time the party rejects any policy of oppression and exploitation of the non-Europeans by the Europeans as being in conflict with the Christian basis of our national life and irreconcilable with our policy.

The party believes that a definite policy of separation (apartheid) between the White races and the non-White racial groups, and the application of the policy of separation also in the case of the non-White racial groups, is the only basis on which the character and future of each race can be protected and safeguarded and on which each race can be guided so as to develop his own national character, aptitude and calling.

All marriages between Europeans and non-Europeans will be prohibited.

In their areas the non-European racial groups will have full opportunities for development in every sphere and will be able to develop their own institutions and social services whereby the forces of the progressive non-Europeans can be harnessed for their own national development (volkeepbou). The policy of the country must be so planned that it will eventually promote the ideal of complete separation (algehele apartheid) in a national way.

A permanent advisory body of experts on non-European affairs will be established.

The State will exercise complete supervision over the molding of the youth. The party will not tolerate interference from without or destructive propaganda from the outside world in regard to the racial problems of South Africa.

The party wishes all non-Europeans to be strongly encouraged to make the Christian religion the basis of their lives and will assist churches in this task in every possible way. Churches and societies which undermine the policy of apartheid and propagate doctrines foreign to the nation will be checked.

The Colored community takes a middle position between the European and the Natives. A policy of separation (apartheid) between the Europeans and Coloreds and between Natives and Coloreds will be applied in the social, residential, industrial and political spheres. No marriage between Europeans and Coloreds will be permitted. The Coloreds will be protected against unfair competition from the Natives in so far as where they are already established.

The Colored community will be represented in the Senate by a European representative to be appointed by the Government by reason of his knowledge of Colored affairs.

The present unhealthy system which allows Coloreds in the Cape to be registered on the same voters’ roll as Europeans and to vote for the same candidate as Europeans will be abolished and the Coloreds will be represented in the House of Assembly by three European representatives.

These Colored representatives will be elected by a Colored representative council. They will not vote on:

A State Department of Colored Affairs will be established.

The Colored community will be represented in the Cape Provincial Council by three Europeans elected by the Colored representative council.

A Colored representative council will be established in the Cape Province consisting of representatives elected by the Colored community, divided into constituencies with the present franchise qualifications, the head of the Department of Colored Affairs and representatives nominated by the Government. In their own areas the Colored community will have their own councils with their own public services which will be managed by themselves within the framework of the existing councils with higher authority.

Attention will be given to the provision of social, medical and welfare services in which the efforts of the Colored themselves can be harnessed, and in which they will be taught as far as possible to be self-supporting.

From U.N. General Assembly, Eighth Session. Supplement No. 16. Report of the United Nations Commission on the Racial Situation in the Union of South Africa, 1953. (A/2505 and A/2505/ADD.1). Official Record.

READING AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS