John Eligon

And once they took power, they created a system that we all know today, that system of apartheid.

And once they took power, they created a system that we all know today, that system of apartheid.

So Afrikaners end up becoming the group that enforces the really brutal rules of segregation that come to define South Africa.

So Afrikaners end up becoming the group that enforces the really brutal rules of segregation that come to define South Africa.

Yes, Michael. So they essentially formed this government that relegates Black South Africans, the majority population, to essentially subhuman status. They kick them off their land. They force them to live in these ramshackle townships that got no resources, oftentimes didn't have water or electricity or anything like that.

Yes, Michael. So they essentially formed this government that relegates Black South Africans, the majority population, to essentially subhuman status. They kick them off their land. They force them to live in these ramshackle townships that got no resources, oftentimes didn't have water or electricity or anything like that.

Their movements, the movements of the black majority, were very tightly controlled. They needed special passes if they wanted to go into cities or towns. The areas with the most arable farmland, those were not areas where black people were allowed to settle. Those were areas that the white population was able to take over. And this system ruled.

Their movements, the movements of the black majority, were very tightly controlled. They needed special passes if they wanted to go into cities or towns. The areas with the most arable farmland, those were not areas where black people were allowed to settle. Those were areas that the white population was able to take over. And this system ruled.

for nearly 50 years until the early 1990s when you started to see much of the world turn against the system. And you started to see this sort of crumble and the Afrikaners had to sort of give way to the black majority.

for nearly 50 years until the early 1990s when you started to see much of the world turn against the system. And you started to see this sort of crumble and the Afrikaners had to sort of give way to the black majority.

And what does that look like for the Afrikaners who have amassed so much power to have to give it up?

And what does that look like for the Afrikaners who have amassed so much power to have to give it up?

So toward the end of the apartheid system, there were vigorous negotiations over what the Afrikaners would give up, what they would keep, and what black people would get. And essentially, what was negotiated at the time was a system in which Black people would get their political power. But through those negotiations, Afrikaners were not really forced to give up their economic status.

So toward the end of the apartheid system, there were vigorous negotiations over what the Afrikaners would give up, what they would keep, and what black people would get. And essentially, what was negotiated at the time was a system in which Black people would get their political power. But through those negotiations, Afrikaners were not really forced to give up their economic status.

They were not forced to give up land. Essentially, it was a relatively peaceful transition.

They were not forced to give up land. Essentially, it was a relatively peaceful transition.

It sounds like they're treated surprisingly well, given the circumstances of what they had inflicted on the majority that's now suddenly in power.

It sounds like they're treated surprisingly well, given the circumstances of what they had inflicted on the majority that's now suddenly in power.

Exactly. And to this day in South Africa, you will hear one of the big criticisms about Nelson Mandela, who was the hero of the anti-apartheid movement as much of the world knows him,

Exactly. And to this day in South Africa, you will hear one of the big criticisms about Nelson Mandela, who was the hero of the anti-apartheid movement as much of the world knows him,