Concetti Chiave
- The Boers, originally Dutch settlers in South Africa from 1657, evolved into the Afrikaners, with Afrikaans now spoken by 5 million people.
- The Anglo-Boer War occurred between 1898 and 1902, resulting in a British victory over the Boers.
- Apartheid, meaning separateness, was an official policy of racial segregation in South Africa from 1948 until 1990.
- The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in 1994 to investigate apartheid-era abuses.
- A key anti-apartheid leader spent 27 years in prison, later winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and becoming president of South Africa in 1994.
Origins of the Boers
In 1657, a few people left the Dutch East India Company, which had some stations for its trading ships, and became settlers in South Africa. They were the first “Boers” (farmers). The descendants of the first Boers called themselves ”Afrikaners.” Today their language, ”Afrikaans” is the mother tongue to 5 million people. During the nineteenth century the British presence and influence grew. In 1898, the Anglo-Boer war broke out. The U.K. won the war against the Boers in 1902.
Definition of apartheid
Apartheid, pronounced “a-part-hate”, means separateness, segregation. The basis of apartheid is the racial discrimination of citizens through different political, social, religious, cultural and economic treatment.
Here are some examples of apartheid in South Africa that became the official government policy in 1948 (until 1990):
- 80% of the population (native groups) had less than 15 per cent of the land.
- The population was strictly divided into race groups.
- Inter-racial marriages were forbidden.
- The towns were divided into racial sectors.
- The movements of the black people were restricted.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
In 1994, the new government established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, with the purpose of investigating abuses committed during the apartheid regime.
He was the most important black South African leader and fought for the civil rights of black people.
He spent 27 years in prison because of his political ideas. During this period he became the symbol of the struggle against apartheid all over the world.
Recognition and political career
In 1990 he was set free; in 1993 he won the Nobel Peace prize with F.W. de Clerk, the last white president in South Africa. In 1994 he was elected president and he retired from public life in 1999.
Domande da interrogazione
- What were the origins of the Boers in South Africa?
The Boers originated in 1657 when a few individuals left the Dutch East India Company to become settlers in South Africa. They were the first "Boers" or farmers, and their descendants called themselves "Afrikaners," with Afrikaans as their language.
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