South Africa had a system of apartheid, or racial segregation. It had existed de facto for a long time but was institutionalized in 1948. This manifested itself in nearly every aspect of public life. For example, the black population mostly lived in the so-called homelands or in the townships near the major cities. One of the best-known townships is Soweto (South-Western Township). The photo below shows what it looked like in 1975.
While we were in South Africa, it became clear to us that, although there was still a shrinking political majority in favor of the system, many white people – especially the English-speaking and better-educated segments of the population – did recognize that it had no future and that it was actually time to move on from it. However, two developments slowed down that process of moving on.
Supporters of apartheid always pointed to South Africa’s decolonized neighbors, where one country after another spiraled into political and economic decline. That was South Africa’s nightmare. But what likely delayed the abolition of apartheid even more were the trade boycotts imposed by the international community, led by the Netherlands, among others.
South Africa was a prosperous industrial nation. It produced just about everything itself, whether or not under license from European, Japanese, or American companies. Moreover, it had nearly every conceivable raw material in its own soil; it even produced its own gasoline. And it was a fertile land. The effect, therefore, was not economic, but primarily psychological. It gave many white South Africans the feeling that they were once again on their own. Just like during the Great Trek. They once again arranged their covered wagons in a circle to defend their possessions.
It was President F.W. de Klerk who broke the deadlock in this process, against the wishes of many of his own voters. He made South Africa’s transition possible by releasing Nelson Mandela in 1990 and entering into political negotiations with him regarding the country’s future. Thanks to the statesmanship of both men, a peaceful transition to a new South Africa was ultimately achieved.