In
the early 1960s, the nations of Africa began to assert their independence,
one by one throwing off their white rulers. South Africa's racial
policies came more and more under attack from the Commonwealth,
the United Nations, and outsiders.
In
response to the decolonization of Africa and the increased criticism,
South Africa responded with a new policy aimed at achieving nationhood
for the separate racial groups. The Promotion of Bantu Self-government
Act changed the reserves to "homelands" and provided for
limited self government. However, the lands of the homelands were
far too small to support the populations and were often poor and
infertile. Most still had to leave the homelands to work for the
whites.
Part
of Bitter Union: The Story of South
Africa exhibit |
