The statement that best describes apartheid is:
Apartheid was a policy of racist laws in South Africa.
Explanation:
1. Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was enforced in South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s.
2. The word "apartheid" itself means "separateness" in Afrikaans, and it aimed to maintain white minority rule over the black majority population.
3. Under apartheid, strict laws were put in place to segregate and oppress non-white South Africans, restricting their rights and freedoms based on their race.
4. This system led to widespread social, economic, and political injustices, and it was widely condemned both domestically and internationally.
5. Apartheid eventually ended through a series of negotiations and the release of Nelson Mandela, leading to the establishment of a democratic government in South Africa.
In summary, apartheid was a deeply discriminatory policy that enforced racial segregation and oppression in South Africa, impacting the lives of millions of people based on their race.