South Africa's Group Areas Act

The Group Areas Act was a law in apartheid-era South Africa (1950s-1970s) that officially segregated communities by race. It designated specific areas for Black, White, Coloured, and Indian populations, forcing many non-white South Africans to move from their homes and live in designated areas often less developed. This legislation aimed to reinforce racial separation, limit non-white access to certain neighborhoods, and control urban growth according to racial classifications. It played a key role in institutionalizing racial discrimination and deeply shaped South Africa’s urban landscape and social structure during that period.