Apartheid Years

By 1978, South Africa's apartheid system became the focus of global denunciation.

The struggle intensified during the early 1980s. While the South African army continued its forays into neighbouring countries, most of the homelands were proved economic and political disasters. The United Democratic Front, closely identified with the exiled ANC, initiated strikes, boycotts. In 1985 a state of emergency was declared in many parts of the country with policemen and soldiers patrolling black townships in armed vehicles, detaining thousands.

The program of change came on Feb. 2, 1990 and nine days later Nelson Mandela was released from prison. During the next year Parliament repealed the basic apartheid laws, and allowed exiles to return to South Africa.