Correct option is C
Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s. The term "apartheid" means "separateness" in Afrikaans. It was introduced by the National Party (NP) government and was designed to maintain white domination while extending racial separation.
Under apartheid, laws classified South Africans into racial groups—White, Black, Coloured (mixed race), and Indian/Asian—and severely restricted the rights of non-white citizens. Black South Africans faced numerous restrictions, including:
- Limited land ownership under laws like the Land Acts
- Separate public facilities under the Group Areas Act
- Restricted movement via pass laws
- No political representation in the national government
Apartheid led to international condemnation, economic sanctions, and widespread resistance led by leaders like Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years. The system officially ended in 1994, when Mandela became South Africa's first Black president after the first multiracial elections.