List of All Apartheid Laws from 1948 to 1994 + PDF

Over 200 laws were enacted during the Apartheid from 1948 to 1994. These laws cut across Education, Lands, the Media, relationships with Indians, and employment just to mention a few.

In this post, I have provided a list of all Apartheid laws in chronological order.

Download PDF HERE

Complete List of All Apartheid Laws and Acts 1948 to 1994

  1. Masters and Servants Acts of 1856
  2. Mines and Works Act No 12 of 1911
  3. Repealed by section 20 of the Mines and Works Amendment Act No 27 of 1956
  4. Black Land Act No 27 of 19 June 1913
  5. The Native Affairs Act of 1920
  6. The Durban Land Alienation Ordinance, No 14 of 1922
  7. The Natal Provincial Council passes three ordinances of 1922:
    1. The Rural Dealers’ Licensing Ordinance – limited the right of appeal.
    2. The Townships Franchise Ordinance – Indians lose municipal franchise.
    3. The Durban Land Alienation Ordinance – gives the Durban Town Council the right to restrict ownership and occupation of land of any race group.
  8. The Class Areas Bill of 1923
  9. The Natives (Urban Areas) Act No 21 of 1923
  10. Boroughs Ordinance No 189 of 1924
  11. The Industrial Conciliation Act No 11 of 1924
  12. The Township Franchise Ordinance of 1924
  13. The Rural Dealers Ordinance of 1924
  14. The Transvaal Dealers (Control) Ordinance No 11 of 1925
  15. The Minimum Wages Act of 1925
  16. The Class Areas Bill of 1925
  17. The Areas Reservation and Immigration and Registration (Further Provision) Bill 1925
  18. The Mines and Works Act (Colour Bar Act) No 25 of 1926.
  19. Working Life Factories, Township and Popular Culture 1886 – 1940 by Luli Callinicos
  20. The Liquor Bill of 1926
  21. The Local Government (Provincial Powers) Act of 1926
  22. The Immigration and Indian Relief (Further Provision) Bill of 1927
  23. The Asiatics in the Northern Districts of Natal Act of 1927
  24. The Liquor Act of 1927
  25. The Women’s Franchise Bill of 1927
  26. The Riotous Assembly Act of 1927
  27. The Immigration and Indian Relief (Further) Provision: Act no 37 of 1927
  28. The Nationality and Flag Act of 1927
  29. The Old Age Pension Act of 1927
  30. The Liquor Act of 1927
  31. The Black Administration Act No 38 of 1927
  32. The Liquor Bill Section 104 of the Liquor Bill of 1928
  33. The Transvaal Asiatic Land Tenure of 1930
  34. The Industrial Conciliation Act of 1930
  35. The Wage Amendment Act of 1930
  36. The Women’s Enfranchisement Act of 1930
  37. The Riotous Assemblies (Amendment) Act No 19 of 1930
  38. The Asiatic Immigration Amendment Act of 1931
  39. The Native Service Contracts Act of 1932
  40. The Transvaal Asiatic Land Tenure (Amendment) Act No 35 of 1932
  41. The Slums Act: Demolition of Slums of 1934
  42. The Rural Dealers Licensing Ordinance Natal of 1935
  43. Representation of Blacks Act No 12 of 1936
  44. The Representation of Natives Act No 16 of 1936
  45. The Development Trust and Land Act No 18 1936
  46. The Aliens Registration Act No 26 of 1936
  47. The Asiatic Land Tenure Amendment Act No 30 of 1936
  48. The Native Trust and Land Act of 1936
  49. The Development Trust and Land Act No 18 of 1936
  50. The Aliens Act No 1 of 1937
  51. The Industrial Conciliation Act No 36 of 1937
  52. The Black (Native) Laws Amendment Act No 46 of 1937
  53. The Marketing and Unbeneficial Land Occupation Act No 26 of 1937
  54. The Native Administration Amendment Act No 9 of 1937
  55. The Industrial Conciliation Act No 36 of 1937
  56. This Act introduces the colour bar in trade unions.
  57. The Transvaal Asiatic Land Tenure (Further Amendment) Act of 1937
  58. The Mixed Marriages Bill of 1937
  59. The Provincial Legislative Powers Extension Bill of 1937
  60. The Transvaal Asiatic Land Bill of 1937
  61. The Marketing and Unbeneficial Land Occupation Act of 1937
  62. The Asiatics (Transvaal Land and Trading) Bill of 1938
  63. The Pegging Act of 1943
  64. The Asiatic Land Tenure and Indian Representation/Ghetto Act of 1946
  65. The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act, Act No 55 of 1949
  66. Factories, Machinery and Building Works Act of 1941
  67. Electoral Laws Amendment Act of 1940
  68. Pensions Laws Amendment Act 1944
  69. Industrial Conciliation (Natives) Bill 1947
  70. Immorality Amendment Act, Act No 21 of 1950
  71. Suppression of Communism Act, Act No 44 of 1950
  72. The Group Areas Act, Act No 41 of 1950
  73. The Population Registration Act, Act No 30 of 1950
  74. The Bantu Authorities Act, Act No 68 of 1951
  75. Bantu/Native Building Workers Act, Act No 27 of 1951
  76. Separate Representation of Voters Act, Act No 46 of 1951
  77. Prevention of Illegal Squatting Act, Act No 52 of 1951
  78. Natives Laws Amendment Act of 1952
  79. Natives (Abolition of Passes and Coordination of Documents) Act, Act No 67 of 1952
  80. Natives Labour (Settlement of Disputes) Act of 1953
  81. Public Safety Act of 1953
  82. The Criminal Law Amendment Act, Act No 8 of 1953
  83. Bantu Education Act, Act No 47 of 1953
  84. Reservation of Separate Amenities Act, Act No 49 of 1953
  85. Natives Resettlement Act, Act No 19 of 1954
  86. Riotous Assemblies and Suppression of Communism Amendment Act, Act No 15 of 1954
  87. Criminal Procedure Act, Act No 56 of 1955
  88. Black Labour (Settlement of Disputes) Amendment Act, Act No 59 of 1955
  89. Natives (Prohibition of Interdicts) Act, Act No 64 of 1956
  90. The Industrial Conciliation Amendment Act of 1956
  91. South Africa Act Amendment Act, Act No 9 of 1956
  92. Riotous Assemblies Act, Act No 17 of 1956
  93. The Natives Taxation and Development Act, Act No 38 of 1958
  94. Bantu Investment Corporation Act, Act No 34 of 1959
  95. The Promotion of Bantu Self-Government Act of 1959
  96. Proclamation No 400 and Proclamation No 413
  97. Extension of University Education Amendment Act No 32 of 1960
  98. Unlawful Organisations Act No 34 of 1960
  99. Urban Blacks Council Act No 79 of 1961
  100. General Law Amendment Act No 39 of 1961
  101. The 1956 Riotous Assemblies Act.
  102. Indemnity Act No 61 of 1961
  103. General Law Amendment Act (Sabotage Act) No 76 of 1962
  104. Terrorism Act No 83 of 1962
  105. General Law Amendment Act No 37 of 1963
  106. Transkei Constitution Act No 48 of 1963
  107. Extension of University Education Amendment Act No 67 of 1963
  108. General Law Amendment Act No 80 of 1964
  109. Transkei Authorities Act No 6 of 1964
  110. Black Labour Act No 67 of 1965
  111. Education Act No 2 of 1965
  112. Criminal Procedure Amendment Act No 96 (180-Day Detention Law) of 1965
  113. Transkeian Authorities Amendment Act No 7 of 1966
  114. Group Areas Act No 36 of 1966
  115. Industrial Conciliation Further Amendment Act No 61 of 1966
  116. General Law Amendment Act No 62 of 1966
  117. Education Act No 9 of 1967
  118. Transkeian Police Act No 5 of 1967
  119. Environmental Planning Act No 88 of 1967
  120. Suppression of Communism Act No 24 of 1967
  121. Labour Laws Amendment Act No 4 of 1967
  122. Separate Representation of Voters Amendment Act No 50 of 1968
  123. Prohibition of Political Interference Act No 51 of 1968
  124. South African Indian Council Act No 31 of 1968
  125. Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Amendment Act No 21 of 1968
  126. Dangerous Weapons Act No 71 of 1968
  127. Public Service Amendment Act No 86 of 1969
  128. Bantu Homelands Citizens Act of 1970
  129. Act 21 of 1971 Self-governing Territories Constitution Act, 1971
  130. Act 31 of 1971 Transkei Constitution Amendment Act, 1971
  131. Act 61 of 1975 Transkei Constitution Amendment Act, 1975
  132. Act 3 of 1976 Transkei Constitution Amendment Act, 1976
  133. Act 65 of 1976 Financial Relations Act, 1976
  134. Act 100 of 1976 Status of Transkei Act, 1976
  135. Act 30 of 1977 Constitution Amendment Act, 1977
  136. Act 31 of 1977 Financial Relations Amendment Act, 1977
  137. Act 89 of 1977 Status of Bophuthatswana Act, 1977
  138. Act 8 of 1978 Bophuthatswana Border Extension Act, 1978
  139. Act 13 of 1978 National States Citizenship Amendment Act, 1978
  140. Act 36 of 1978 Alteration of Provincial Boundaries Act, 1978
  141. Act 107 of 1979 Status of Venda Act, 1979
  142. Act 47 of 1970 Wine and Spirit Control Act, 1970
  143. Act 70 of 1970 Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act, 1970
  144. Act 25 of 1977 Livestock Improvement Act, 1977
  145. Act 87 of 1979 Designated Areas Development Act, 1979
  146. Pre-Union Statute Law Revision Act, 1970 (Act 42 of 1970)
  147. South African Law Reform Commission Act, 1973 (Act 19 of 1973),
  148. Companies Act, 1973 (Act 61 of 1973).
  149. General Law Amendment Act, 1973 (Act 62 of 1973)
  150. Prescribed Rate of Interest Act, 1975 (Act 55 of 1975)
  151. Petition Proceedings Replacement Act, 1976 (Act 35 of 1976)
  152. Pre-Union Statute Law Revision Act, 1976 (Act 36 of 1976)
  153. Abolition of Civil Imprisonment Act, 1977 (Act 2 of 1977)
  154. Indemnity Act, 1977 (Act 13 of 1977),
  155. Prohibition of the Exhibition of Films on Sundays and Public Holidays Act, 1977 (Act 16 of 1977),
  156. Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards Act, 1977 (Act 40 of 1977)
  157. Pre-Union Statute Law Revision Act, 1977 (Act 43 of 1977)
  158. Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act 51 of 1977)
  159. Dissolution of Marriages on Presumption of Death Act, 1979 (Act 23 of 1979)
  160. Attorneys Act, 1979 (Act 53 of 1979),
  161. Divorce Act, 1979 (Act 70 of 1979)
  162. Bantu Homelands Citizenship Act (National States Citizenship Act) No 26 of 1970
  163. Bantu Homelands Constitution Act (National States Constitutional Act) No 21: 31 March 1971
  164. Extension of University Education Amendment Act No 29: 12 May 1971
  165. Black Affairs Administration Act No 45: 26 November 1971
  166. Bantu Homelands Citizens Act of 1970
  167. Marriage Act No 4 of 1973 
  168. Suppression of Communism Amendment Act No 2 of 1972
  169. Admission of Persons to the Republic Regulation Act No 59 of 1972
  170. Security Intelligence and State Security Council Act No 64 of 1972
  171. Aliens Control Act No 40 of 1973
  172. Black Labour Relations Regulation Amendment Act 70 of 1973
  173. Black Laws Amendment Act No 7 of 1973
  174. Legal Aid Act No 2 of 1973
  175. Prisons Act No 6 of 1974 Set out prison services in Transkei. Commenced: 1 August 1975
  176. Riotous Assemblies Amendment Act No 30 of 1974
  177. Affected Organisations Act No 31 of 1974
  178. Second General Law Amendment Act No 94 of 1974
  179. Proclamation No 86 of 1975
  180. Name of Act of 1976
  181. Bantu Administration Amendment Act No 2 of 1976
  182. Population Registration Act No 24 of 1976
  183. Citizenship of Transkei Act No 26 of 1976
  184. Parliamentary Internal Security Commission Act No 67 of 1976
  185. Internal Security Amendment Act No 79 of 1976
  186. Extension of the Application of Transkeian Laws Act No 6 of 1976
  187. Republic of Transkei Constitution Act No 15 of 1976
  188. Community Councils Act No 125 of 1977
  189. Indemnity Act No 2 of 1977
  190. Criminal Procedure Act No 51 of 1977
  191. Intelligence Service and State Security Council Act No 16 of 1977
  192. Military Discipline Act No 23 of 1977
  193. Aliens and Travellers Control Act No 29 of 1977
  194. Acquisition of Immovable Property Control Act No 21 of 1977
  195. Labour Relations Act of 1977
  196. Labour Act No 14 of 1977
  197. Wage Act No 15 of 1977
  198. Public Security Act No 30 of 1977
  199. Newspaper and Imprint Registration Act No 19 of 1977
  200. Riotous Assemblies Amendment Act of 1978
  201. Marriage Act No 21 of 1978
  202. Publication Act No 18 of 1978
  203. Undesirable Organisations Act No 9 of 1978
  204. Blacks (Urban Areas) Amendment Act No 97 of 1978
  205. Commission of Inquiry into Alleged Irregularities in the Department of Information of 1978-1979
  206. Education and Training Act No 9 of 1979
  207. Births and Deaths Registration Act No 20 of 1979
  208. Commission of Inquiry into Labour Legislation of 1979
  209. Industrial Conciliation Act, 1956
  210. Bantu Labour Relations Regulation Act, 1953
  211. Wage Act, 1957
  212. Factories, Machinery and Building Work Act, 1941
  213. Shops and Offices Act, 1964
  214. Apprenticeship Act, 1944
  215. Training of Artisans Act, 1951
  216. Bantu Building Workers Act, 1951
  217. Electrical Wireman and Contractors’ Act, 1939
  218. Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1941
  219. Unemployment Insurance Act, 1966
  220. Registration for Employment Act, 1945
  221. Constitution Further Amendment Act No 21 of 1979
  222. Internal Security Act No 32 of 1979
  223. State Land Disposal Act No 23 of 1979
  224. Police Act No 16 of 1979
  225. Republic of Venda Constitution Act No 9 of 1979
  226. Industrial Conciliation Amendment Act No 94 of 1979

Conclusion 

There you have a comprehensive list of all Apartheid Laws and Acts from 1948 to 1994. Although there might be some other laws not covered here, these are the main laws the we implemented during that period.

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