Final answer:
Desmond Tutu described South Africa's conditions during apartheid as oppressive due to racial segregation by the white minority government. These conditions are opposite to expectations because the black majority was denied rights in their own country. The end of apartheid marked a significant shift towards democracy and majority rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
Archbishop Desmond Tutu described the social and political conditions in South Africa during the apartheid era as oppressive and racially segregated. Under apartheid, the black majority was systematically denied political and civil rights, segregated in terms of residence, education, and employment, and controlled by a white minority government.
These conditions are considered 'opposite' to what one might expect because, in a country where the majority of the population is black, they were governed and oppressed by the white minority, which contradicts the principles of democracy and majority rule.
The controversial policy of apartheid led to international condemnation and economic sanctions, including from the IMF and the World Bank. It was not until significant internal and external pressure mounted, including violent protests and cultural resistance, that the South African government began the process of dismantling the apartheid system.
This culminated in the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990 and the end of apartheid with a new democratic constitution in 1996. South Africa's first democratic elections were held in 1994, electing Mandela as president and marking a monumental shift in the social and political landscape of the country.
Despite the end of formal apartheid, the legacy of this system still impacts South Africa, and the country continues to face challenges related to social and political inequality, as well as economic disparities. The effects of centuries of colonialism and decades of apartheid are profound, and the country is still working to reconcile these past injustices with its commitment to building a just and equitable society for all its citizens.