South Africa was the last bastion of white rule in Africa. For decades, the country was divided along rigidly racial lines, with the black majority denied any share of political power. But white oppression led to black resistance, bringing bloodshed and tragedy to both races.

When the Union of South Africa won its independence from Britain in 1910, only the whites had cause to celebrate. To the black majority, with virtually no political rights and no say in the running of the nation, it seemed that the change would make small difference. Actually, their plight became even worse as they were subject to a mass of new laws

They were banned from owning land in 90% from the Union’s territory, they had to live in separate areas from whites, and they were denied most from the skilled jobs, which were reserved for whites. They even had to carry special passes which allowed the police to control their movements. The country’s other two non-white groups – Asians and coloureds (people of mixed race) – also suffered discrimination.

Those most strongly in favour from the race laws were the Afrikaners, descendants from the Dutch settlers who had established a colony in Cape Town within the 17th century. Proud, obstinate and self-reliant, with their own language, culture and traditions, they saw themselves almost as the ‘chosen people’ of the Old Testament, with a divine right to the ‘promised land’ of South Africa.

Known originally as Boers, from the Dutch for farmer, they had fought against Britain in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), and there was small love lost between them and also the countries other, and smaller, white minority, whose forebears were British, and who dominated industry, commerce and also the professions.