Apartheid

We visited the Apartheid Museum and were shocked by the massive racial segregation that was enforced by the government in South Africa in 1948, which only ended 16 years ago in 1994.

It was a strange feeling as we were issued with our tickets when we entered the museum, and we were classified as either 'white' or 'non-white'. Our tickets separated our group, and took us in different directions through the start of the museum, where we learnt more about the way the government systematically subjugated the black majority politically, economically, culturally, and socially.

These racial classifications tragically tore apart whole families, as different family members could be classified by the board as being 'colored' or 'black' forcing them to live in separate areas and live their lives according to the rules assigned to their 'race'.

Marriages were prohibited between different 'races' and sexual relations with a person of a different 'race' was a criminal offence. Signs with 'whites only' could be seen in public spaces; on buses, park benches, swimming pools, and drinking taps.

Groups of black people were 'relocated' to slum areas far away from the city, which meant they often had to travel for a couple of hours on a crammed train to get to work if they were lucky enough to have a job. 'Black' people made up the majority of the population (around 90%), yet the 10% of 'white' people owned 90% of the land.

Martin, Bec and Malin outside the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg.

Bec and Malin were separated from Martin and Anders because the identity cards classified us as 'Non European'.

View of Johannesburg over 'Gold Reef City Theme-park' where an Australian gold miner discovered gold in 1886.

Photos of signs and that could be seen during the apartheid regime.

I wonder how the world would have been if this guy was elected ;-)