: The end of the Cold War removed the government's excuse that it was a "bulwark against communism," making it easier for Western allies to withdraw support.
: In 1990, President F.W. de Klerk unbanned opposition parties and released Nelson Mandela. After four years of tense negotiations, the first multiracial elections were held on April 27, 1994 , resulting in Mandela becoming the country’s first Black president. Enduring Legacy South Africa: The Rise and Fall of Apartheid
The system was designed to ensure the political, social, and economic dominance of the white minority. Key architects like D.F. Malan and later Hendrik Verwoerd implemented laws that touched every aspect of life. : The end of the Cold War removed
Resistance grew in tandem with oppression, led by groups like the and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) . South Africa: The Rise and Fall of Apartheid