Homelands or Bantustans

Homelands or Bantustans were territories designated by the South African government during apartheid to segregate Black South Africans. These areas were often remote, underdeveloped, and less resource-rich, serving to restrict the movement and political rights of Black citizens by assigning them to specific regions. Although presented as self-governing nations, they had limited sovereignty and were primarily tools to enforce racial segregation, racial inequality, and deny Black South Africans full citizenship rights within the broader nation. The system reinforced social and economic divisions, marginalizing the majority population and maintaining apartheid policies.