National Party (South Africa)

The National Party was a political party in South Africa, founded in 1914, that primarily represented white Afrikaner interests. It is best known for establishing and enforcing apartheid from 1948 to 1994, a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination against non-white South Africans. The party promoted policies aimed at maintaining white dominance and Afrikaner cultural identity. After losing power in 1994, the National Party dissolved and many of its members joined other political groups, including the new South African government led by Nelson Mandela.