Apartheid officially began in South Africa in 1948, following the national election in which the National Party, advocating for racial segregation, came to power. This policy legalized systemic discrimination against non-white citizens and enforced racial separation in all aspects of life, including education, healthcare, and housing. The apartheid regime sought to maintain white supremacy and control over the majority black population through various laws and practices. The institutionalized oppression lasted until the early 1990s when extensive internal resistance and international pressure led to reforms and, ultimately, the election of Nelson Mandela in 1994 as the first black president of South Africa.