Grade 9 History Essay: How apartheid affected people’s lives

ⓘ Below are the exemplary answers by CAPS AI (supervised by Social Sciences Teachers)

1. Cover Page (pp1)

Surname: Mokoena
Name: Lerato
Grade: 9

Topic: How apartheid affected people’s lives and how people responded

Illustrations:

• A sign during the Apartheid era in South Africa indicating a white people’s side in the beach where Africans, coloureds and Indians were not allowed

  

• The group areas in Cape Town during the apartheid period

  

2. Table of Content (pp2)

1. Cover Page

2. Table of Content

3. Written Research: Group Areas Act (1950)

4. Bibliography

3. Written Research (pp3–4)

Introduction

The apartheid law I chose is the Group Areas Act of 1950. I chose this law because it had a huge effect on where people lived and who they could live near. It caused families to be forcibly removed from their homes, and towns were divided by race. This law shows how apartheid used laws to separate people physically, socially, and emotionally. Understanding this law helps us see how deeply apartheid affected communities in South Africa.

Paragraph 1: When the law was passed, implemented and why?

The Group Areas Act was passed in 1950 by the apartheid government. It came into full effect in 1951. The main purpose of the law was to separate different racial groups into specific residential and business zones. The white government wanted to keep white South Africans in control and stop people of different races from living together. The law gave the government the power to remove people from their homes and relocate them if they were living in the “wrong” area based on their race.

Paragraph 2: What changed with the law being put in place?

When the Group Areas Act was implemented, it led to the forced removal of thousands of people, especially Black, Coloured, and Indian South Africans. They were taken from areas that were declared “White only” and moved to townships far from city centres. For example, in Cape Town, District Six was declared a white area, and over 60,000 people were forced out. Many lost their homes, communities, jobs, and access to schools and hospitals. Cities became racially divided, and people could no longer live in mixed neighbourhoods.

Paragraph 3: What attitudes people had towards the law? How people responded?

Most people affected by the law felt angry, sad, and powerless. Many communities were broken apart. People protested through organisations like the ANC and PAC. Religious leaders, activists, and even some white South Africans spoke out against the law. Despite strict penalties, people resisted by refusing to leave their homes, organizing protests, and sharing their stories internationally. However, the government used force, police, and bulldozers to remove people. The law created long-lasting pain and inequality.

Conclusion

I think the Group Areas Act is an important law to learn about because it shows how the apartheid government used laws to control and divide people. It also reminds us of the strength of communities that fought back and kept their culture and memories alive. Today, the effects of this law can still be seen in how cities are divided in South Africa. Learning about it helps us understand why land reform and housing remain big issues in our country.

4. Bibliography (pp4–5)

1. Bottaro, J. et al. Oxford Successful Social Sciences Grade 9. Oxford University Press, 2013.

2. Friedman, M. et al. Solutions for all Social Sciences Grade 9. Macmillan, 2013.

3. South African History Online. “Group Areas Act.” https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/group-areas-act

4. District Six Museum. https://www.districtsix.co.za/

5. Earle, J. et al. Social Sciences Today Grade 9. Maskew Miller Longman, 2012.

6. ResearchGate. “The group areas in Cape Town during the apartheid period.”
   https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-group-areas-in-Cape-Town-during-the-apartheid-period_fig5_258198211

7. Getty Images via BBC News. “Apartheid ‘Whites Only’ sign.”
   https://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/68148000/jpg/_68148387_apartheid-whites-only-sign_getty_2659675.jpg

5. Interview Questions and Rough Notes Taken During Interview

Name of Interviewee: Mrs. Nomsa Dlamini
Age: 76
Location: Soweto (previously lived in Sophiatown)
Date of Interview: 10 July 2025

Interview Questions:

1. Can you tell me your name and where you lived when you were young?
   → I lived in Sophiatown in Johannesburg. I was born there in 1949.

2. What do you remember about Sophiatown before the removals?
   → It was full of music, different cultures, and life. People of all races lived together.

3. When did you hear about the Group Areas Act?
   → I was still a child, but I remember adults talking about it. Then the removals started around 1955.

4. How did the removals affect your family?
   → The police came with trucks. We were told we had to move to Meadowlands. We lost our home and community.

5. What was it like in the new area where you were forced to go?
   → It was empty and dry. No proper shops or transport. We had to start life from nothing.

6. How did your parents feel about what happened?
   → My father was angry. He had worked hard to buy that house. My mother cried for days.

7. Did your family or community try to protest or resist?
   → Yes, some people tried to resist, especially the men. But the government used police and force.

8. What changes did you notice in your life after the removal?
   → We were far from school and my dad’s work. Everything became harder. Families were broken up.

9. Do you still feel the effects of the Group Areas Act today?
   → Yes. Even now, Soweto is far from the city centre. Transport and land issues are still problems.

10. What would you like young people to know about those times?
    → Don’t forget. And fight for fairness. It’s your job now to fix the future.

6. The Story About the Interviewee (Oral History) (pp6–7)

The Story of Mrs. Nomsa Dlamini and the Group Areas Act

Mrs. Nomsa Dlamini was born in Sophiatown in 1949. Her early childhood was spent in a vibrant and diverse community where people of different races lived side by side. She remembers music playing in the streets and neighbours helping each other. But everything changed when the Group Areas Act was enforced in her area in the mid-1950s.

She was only around 6 years old when her family was told they had to leave. Government officials and police came with trucks and removed families from their homes. The Dlamini family was forcibly moved to Meadowlands, a part of Soweto far from the city centre. They had no choice. Their home was demolished, and their close-knit community was broken.

Life in Meadowlands was hard. There were no schools nearby and very little infrastructure. Her father had to travel far to work, and her mother struggled to adjust. Nomsa said her parents were devastated. Her father felt robbed of everything he had worked for, and her mother cried for days after the move.

Despite this, the family survived. The community in Meadowlands grew and supported each other. People tried to protest, but resistance was dangerous. Some were arrested or beaten. The Group Areas Act had not just moved families—it had destroyed dreams, friendships, and roots.

Even now, Mrs. Dlamini believes the effects of the law are still felt. “Our lives were pushed to the edges of the city,” she said, “and we are still fighting to be seen and heard.” She urges young people to learn about this history and use it to build a better future.

7. Reflection on the Experience (pp8)

Doing this project helped me understand that apartheid was not just about unfair laws—it was about real people who suffered. Listening to Mrs. Dlamini’s story made history feel real. I had read about Sophiatown and forced removals in books, but hearing from someone who lived through it made me feel emotional and shocked.

I also realised how strong and brave people were. They had to rebuild their lives from nothing. This made me think about how unfair it is that many communities are still struggling today because of the past.

This project changed how I think about justice and fairness. It taught me that laws can be used to hurt people if no one speaks out. I now understand how important it is to know our history so we can make sure it never happens again.