Apartheid is a policy of segregation and discrimination on grounds of race, literally taken from the Dutch word: “apart," which means to separate and “heid” meaning hood. According to Archbishop Desmond Tutu “apartheid is in itself violent. Apartheid is in and of itself evil, totally and completely. There’s no way in which you can use nice methods” Apartheid in itself is harsh and discriminative and it had been a long struggle for those who had fight for it. Discrimination based on race and ethnicity was there long ago before the apartheid system was established, it started during the colonial era but then took a legal dimension after the 1948 election won by the National party. From this time, apartheid became a policy, racial and segregation laws started being implemented to the constitution. Referring to the report of the UN Expert Group on South Africa in 1964, apartheid was a crime against mankind and peace. However if some policies seemed to be petty, other ones called “grand apartheid” completely deprived the native South African Blacks from their fundamental human and political rights. There were different kind of legislations used to abduct the non-white from their pride and dignity. This essay underlines the policies of apartheid; the “Guetto Act”, the economic and racial legislation, Prohibition of mixed marriages Act, Group areas act, educational legislation (Bantu Act), amongst all. It also underlines the striking events such as the Sharpeville and Soweto Massacre and also examines the struggle of anti-apartheid personalities such as Nelson Mandela, Steven Biko, Walter Sisulu, Winnie Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and all those whose names had been forgotten but have participated directly or indirectly in the abolition of the apartheid system. Particular attention is also given to the National Party cruel strategies to discourage the non-white South African to revoke their rights and how this illegitimate government made use of violence against its own people. The apartheid system became official in 1948 after the National Party came into power. The South African consisted mainly of non-white, that is; the population of South Africa which was estimated at 25 million at that time, only about 5 million out of the 25 were white3. Therefore it is difficult to imagine how such a small minority succeed to deprive the majority from their basic human right and dignity. The National Party governance was characterized by the “divide to rule” policy, in dividing the South African Nation into ethnic groups and races, they aimed at weakening the latter. The National Party leaders knew that together the non- white were stronger than them, therefore they divided the latter in order to create havoc amongst the non-white population; Indian, Asians and blacks4. Race-Classification aimed at dividing South Africa into racial groups, this cradle- to-grave categorisation classified each and everyone’s role in society, only basing on the skin’s colour and physical appearance. Consequently these laws divided families and also aimed at creating hatred between races which would have fewer privileges than others5. The apartness constitutional system was established notwithstanding the Universal Declaration of Human rights which were made published on the same year the Nationalist Party took power. This created a very controversial situation, at a time where all people around the world were declared to be equal in right and dignity; that every nation should live in fraternity, without discrimination of any kind, the South African government on his part designed the country in a racist and discriminatory manner. Apartheid can be categorised into two groups; petty and “Grand” apartheid. Petty apartheid referred to the daily routine, it started at birth when blacks are born in segregated hospital and at death they are buried in segregated cemeteries. It mainly referred to the fact that there were parks benches, offices, educational institutions, townships, restaurants, buses, toilets, which were segregated, there were some for blacks and others reserved for the white only. Therefore, this limited contact between the two races, completely dividing their lives and giving one more privileges than the other. On the other hand, “Grand” apartheid referred to right to property and political right of non-white individuals. It also aimed at the allocation of land, by categorising by race, therefore defining where whites should live and where the other races should. Its main aim was to regroup those of the same race in one area, often very far from economic development. “Grand” apartheid also referred to the voting right, at that period, the right to vote was only reserved for whites and therefore the non-white could not participate in the political process of their homeland7. In 1946, the “Ghetto Act” was passed; limiting area where Indians could have land property, therefore it also