Anti-apartheid activism in South Africa was fueled by a combination of factors, including systemic racial discrimination established by apartheid laws from 1948, economic inequality, and the lack of political representation for non-white citizens. The apartheid regime enforced segregation in all aspects of life, leading to widespread disenfranchisement. The African National Congress (ANC), alongside other organizations, rallied against oppressive policies through protests, strikes, and international advocacy. Key figures, such as Nelson Mandela, become symbols of resistance. Global solidarity movements, alongside domestic hardship, increased pressure on the apartheid government, ultimately contributing to its dismantling in the early 1990s.