Apartheid was the official policy of racial segregation and ill treatments of blacks followed by the Government of south Africa. The system of apartheid was oppressive in these ways.1.The apartheid was particularly oppressive for Blacks and Indians The South African Blacks and Indians were fighting against the apartheid but the racial government did not pay much attention. 2.They were forbidden from living in the areas where the whites lived.3.They could work in the areas of whites only if they had permits.4.It was a system within apartheid that trains, buses, taxis, hotels, hospital, schools, colleges, libraries, cinema halls, theaters, beaches, swimming pools, public toilets, were all separate for whites and blacks. This was called segregation.5.They could not even visit churches where the whites worshiped . 6.Blacks could not form associations and could not protest against the terrible treatment done by whites against them.7. Apartheid forced thousands of South African blacks to migrate to 'black homelands', losing their livelihoods and jobs in the process.

The Oppressive Nature of Apartheid

Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. This oppressive system was implemented by the National Party government, primarily led by white Afrikaners, with the aim of maintaining white supremacy and control over the country. Apartheid affected every aspect of life in South Africa and had severe consequences for the non-white population, particularly black Africans.

1. Legal Discrimination:
- Apartheid laws were enacted to enforce racial segregation, effectively dividing society into racial groups and allocating different rights and privileges based on skin color.
- The Population Registration Act classified individuals into different racial groups, limiting their access to education, healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities.
- The Group Areas Act forcibly relocated non-white communities to designated areas, often far away from urban centers, resulting in the destruction of established neighborhoods and communities.

2. Social and Economic Inequality:
- Apartheid entrenched social and economic disparities between different racial groups.
- Non-white individuals were denied access to quality education, resulting in limited career prospects and perpetuating a cycle of poverty.
- Non-white communities were deprived of basic infrastructure and services, including clean water, electricity, and sanitation.
- The job market was segregated, with non-white individuals being paid significantly lower wages for the same work as their white counterparts.

3. Repression and Violence:
- The apartheid government used brutal tactics to suppress any resistance or opposition to the system.
- The police and military were given extensive powers to detain, arrest, and torture individuals without due process.
- Non-white political organizations, such as the African National Congress (ANC), were banned, and their leaders were imprisoned or forced into exile.
- The government enforced strict censorship and surveillance, limiting freedom of speech and expression.

4. Denial of Political Rights:
- Non-white individuals were denied political representation and the right to vote.
- The white minority maintained control over all branches of government, ensuring their domination and perpetuation of apartheid policies.
- The Bantu Education Act aimed to create a separate and inferior education system for black Africans, preventing them from acquiring the skills necessary for political participation and leadership.

5. Dehumanization and Segregation:
- Apartheid aimed to dehumanize non-white individuals, treating them as inferior and subhuman.
- Public spaces, including transportation, beaches, and parks, were segregated, reinforcing the idea of racial superiority.
- Interracial relationships and marriages were criminalized, further dividing communities and families.

Overall, apartheid was an oppressive system that systematically marginalized and discriminated against non-white individuals in South Africa. It violated basic human rights, perpetuated social and economic inequalities, and used violence to maintain control. The legacy of apartheid continues to shape South Africa today, as the country strives to address the long-lasting effects of this deeply unjust system.