Slavery in South Africa

Slavery in South Africa involved the forced labor and captivity of indigenous peoples and later, enslaved Africans, primarily by European settlers such as the Dutch and British from the 17th to 19th centuries. Enslaved individuals had no personal freedoms and were treated as property, working on farms, in households, or industries. The system deeply impacted social and racial structures, contributing to persistent inequalities. Although slavery officially ended in the 19th century, its legacy influenced South Africa’s social dynamics, racial divisions, and economic disparities that still affect the country today.