Well, I wasn’t alive during the time when apartheid was in full force, but from what I’ve learned, it took several decades for apartheid to finally come to an end. The National Party, which implemented and enforced apartheid, came to power in 1948 and immediately began implementing policies that segregated and oppressed non-white South Africans.
At the time, the majority of South Africa’s population was non-white, and they were subjected to discrimination and violence on a daily basis. Apartheid was a system that divided people based on their race and enforced strict laws to maintain racial separation and white supremacy.
Resistance to apartheid began almost immediately, with individuals and organizations fighting for equality and an end to racial segregation. The African National Congress (ANC), led by figures such as Nelson Mandela, played a significant role in the struggle against apartheid.
However, it wasn’t until the late 1980s that significant progress towards dismantling apartheid began to take place. In 1989, F.W. de Klerk became the President of South Africa and started implementing a series of reforms. He released Mandela from prison in 1990, signaling a turning point in the fight against apartheid.
Negotiations between the government and the ANC continued throughout the early 1990s, leading to the adoption of a new constitution in 1993. This constitution provided for a non-racial and democratic South Africa, and paved the way for the first democratic elections in 1994.
These elections were a historic moment for South Africa, as people of all races were able to vote for the first time. The ANC, led by Nelson Mandela, won a majority of the seats in parliament, and Mandela became the first black president of South Africa.
So, to answer your question, it took nearly 46 years from the implementation of apartheid in 1948 to the formation of a democratic government in 1994. It was a long and hard-fought battle, with many sacrifices made along the way. But ultimately, apartheid was brought to an end, and South Africa took its first steps towards building a more equal and inclusive society.