Population Registration Act
Encyclopedia
The Population Registration Act of 1950 required that each inhabitant of South Africa
be classified and registered in accordance with their racial characteristics as part of the system of apartheid. Social rights, political rights, educational opportunities, and economic status were largely determined by the group to which an individual belonged. There were three basic racial classifications under the law: Black
, White and Coloured
(Mixed). Indians (that is, South Asians from the former British India, and their descendents) was later added as a separate classification as they were seen as having "no historical right to the country".
An Office for Race Classification was set up to overview the classification process. Classification into groups was carried out using criteria such as outer appearance, general acceptance and social standing. For example, it defined a "white person" as one who "in appearance is obviously a white person who is generally not accepted as a coloured person; or is generally accepted as a white person and is not in appearance obviously a white person." Because some aspects of the profile were of a social nature, reclassifications were not uncommon, and a board was established to conduct that process. For example, the following criteria were used for separating the coloureds from the whites:
This law worked in tandem with other laws passed as part of the apartheid system. Under the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act
of 1949, it was illegal for a white person to marry a person of another race. With the enactment of the Immorality Amendment Act
of 1950, it also became a crime for a white person and a person of another race to have sexual intercourse.
The South African Parliament repealed the act on June 17, 1991. However, the racial categories defined in the Act remain ingrained in South African culture
and they still form the basis of some official policies, aimed at correcting past economic imbalances (Black Economic Empowerment
and Employment Equity).
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
be classified and registered in accordance with their racial characteristics as part of the system of apartheid. Social rights, political rights, educational opportunities, and economic status were largely determined by the group to which an individual belonged. There were three basic racial classifications under the law: Black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
, White and Coloured
Coloured
In the South African, Namibian, Zambian, Botswana and Zimbabwean context, the term Coloured refers to an heterogenous ethnic group who possess ancestry from Europe, various Khoisan and Bantu tribes of Southern Africa, West Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaya, India, Mozambique,...
(Mixed). Indians (that is, South Asians from the former British India, and their descendents) was later added as a separate classification as they were seen as having "no historical right to the country".
An Office for Race Classification was set up to overview the classification process. Classification into groups was carried out using criteria such as outer appearance, general acceptance and social standing. For example, it defined a "white person" as one who "in appearance is obviously a white person who is generally not accepted as a coloured person; or is generally accepted as a white person and is not in appearance obviously a white person." Because some aspects of the profile were of a social nature, reclassifications were not uncommon, and a board was established to conduct that process. For example, the following criteria were used for separating the coloureds from the whites:
- Characteristics of the person's head hair
- Characteristics of the person's other hair
- Skin colour
- Facial features
- Home language and especially the knowledge of Afrikaans
- Area where the person lives, the person's friends and acquaintances
- Employment
- Socioeconomic status
- Eating and drinking habits
This law worked in tandem with other laws passed as part of the apartheid system. Under the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act
Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act
The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act, Act No 55 of 1949, was an apartheid law in South Africa that prohibited marriages between people of different races. It was among the first pieces of apartheid legislation to be passed following the National Party's rise to power in 1948...
of 1949, it was illegal for a white person to marry a person of another race. With the enactment of the Immorality Amendment Act
Immorality Act
Immorality Act was the title of two acts of the Parliament of South Africa which prohibited, amongst other things, sexual relations between white people and people of other races. The first Immorality Act, of 1927, prohibited sex between whites and blacks, until amended in 1950 to prohibit sex...
of 1950, it also became a crime for a white person and a person of another race to have sexual intercourse.
The South African Parliament repealed the act on June 17, 1991. However, the racial categories defined in the Act remain ingrained in South African culture
Culture of South Africa
South Africa is known for its ethnic and cultural diversity. Therefore, there is no single culture of South Africa.The South African black majority still has a substantial number of rural inhabitants who lead largely impoverished lives...
and they still form the basis of some official policies, aimed at correcting past economic imbalances (Black Economic Empowerment
Black Economic Empowerment
Black Economic Empowerment is a programme launched by the South African government to redress the inequalities of Apartheid by giving previously disadvantaged groups economic opportunities previously not available to them...
and Employment Equity).