The correct option is (a).
Explanation
Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s. It was characterized by an authoritarian political culture based on white supremacy, which ensured that South Africa was dominated politically, socially, and economically by the nation's minority white population.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: Under the Apartheid regime, strict segregation laws such as the Group Areas Act of 1950 were enforced. Black people were forbidden from living in areas designated for whites. They could only work in white areas if they possessed a specific permit, and their movement was heavily restricted through "pass laws."
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Apartheid government severely restricted civil liberties. Black South Africans were denied the right to form political associations freely, and major political organizations like the African National Congress (ANC) were banned. Protests were met with brutal suppression by the state security forces.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Segregation extended to all public facilities and social institutions. Blacks were not permitted to use the same public amenities as whites, including trains, buses, taxis, hotels, hospitals, schools, and libraries. This segregation also applied to places of worship; blacks were not allowed to worship in churches designated for whites.
Key Takeaway:
The Apartheid system enforced total racial segregation, denying non-whites basic human rights, including freedom of movement, residence, association, and worship in integrated spaces.