: Nelson Mandela and other top ANC leaders were sentenced to life in prison in 1964.
: The end of the Cold War removed the government's excuse that it was a "bulwark against communism," making it easier for Western allies to withdraw support. South Africa: The Rise and Fall of Apartheid
Resistance grew in tandem with oppression, led by groups like the and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) . : Nelson Mandela and other top ANC leaders
The system was designed to ensure the political, social, and economic dominance of the white minority. Key architects like D.F. Malan and later Hendrik Verwoerd implemented laws that touched every aspect of life. The system was designed to ensure the political,
By the late 1980s, the system was becoming unsustainable due to a combination of factors:
: Global boycotts, trade embargoes, and economic sanctions from countries like the U.S. and UK crippled the South African economy.