Apartheid was a policy of racial segregation in South Africa, which lasted from 1948 to 1992, to maintain white supremacy. The policy was dismantled by the collective efforts of many individuals, with Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk playing key roles in its abolition.
Step-by-step explanation:
Apartheid is defined as a system of racial segregation that operated in South Africa between 1948 and 1992. It was a policy enacted to maintain white supremacy, ensuring the complete subjugation of the African majority by legally enforcing the separation of races and depriving the Black majority of political and civil rights. At its core, it meant the control of the nation's social, economic, and political life by a white minority.
The dismantling of apartheid was a collective effort involving many, but few as central as Nelson Mandela. Once president of the African National Congress (ANC), Mandela was a tireless activist against apartheid policies and was imprisoned for 27 years. Following his release in 1990, significant reforms took place, culminating in the first free elections in 1994, which elected Mandela as President. Another key figure in ending apartheid was F.W. de Klerk, the last State President of apartheid-era South Africa, whose administration initiated the reform process enabling the transition to a multi-racial democracy.