South Africa's Independence

South Africa gained independence from British rule on May 31, 1910, but it was not a complete independence. The country was still under British control in terms of foreign affairs and defense. It was only in 1931 that South Africa became a fully independent state within the British Commonwealth.

The Road to Independence

The road to independence in South Africa was a long and difficult one. The Boer War, fought from 1899 to 1902, saw the British defeat the Boers, who were descendants of Dutch settlers, and establish control over the country. This led to the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, which was a self-governing dominion within the British Empire.

However, the Union of South Africa was still under British control in terms of foreign affairs and defense. It was only in 1931 that South Africa became a fully independent state within the British Commonwealth. This was due to the Statute of Westminster, which granted self-governing dominions within the British Empire full independence in terms of foreign affairs and defense.

The Apartheid Era

South Africa's independence was marred by the Apartheid era, which began in 1948 and lasted until 1994. Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that targeted non-white South Africans, particularly black South Africans.

The Apartheid era was marked by widespread human rights abuses, including forced removals, forced labor, and police brutality. It was only after years of international pressure and internal resistance that the Apartheid regime was finally brought down in the early 1990s.

The End of Apartheid

In 1990, President F.W. de Klerk announced the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC), the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, and the beginning of negotiations to end Apartheid. The negotiations culminated in the 1994 elections, which saw the ANC win a majority of the vote and Mandela become the first black President of South Africa.

Conclusion

South Africa's independence was a long and difficult process that was marked by the Apartheid era. While the country gained independence from British rule in 1910, it was only in 1931 that South Africa became a fully independent state within the British Commonwealth. The Apartheid era, which began in 1948, was a dark time in South Africa's history, but the end of Apartheid in the early 1990s marked a new beginning for the country.

On 31 May 1961 South Africa got independence .