The significance of the South African Apartheid movement lies in its role in institutionalizing racial segregation and discrimination from 1948 until the early 1990s. Apartheid systematically oppressed the non-white population, severely limiting their rights and freedoms, leading to widespread international condemnation and resistance movements. Figures like Nelson Mandela emerged as key leaders in the struggle against apartheid, ultimately contributing to its dismantling. The movement is crucial in illustrating the struggles for equality and social justice, influencing other civil rights movements globally and leading to the establishment of a democratic South Africa in 1994.