On June 17, 1991, South Africa repealed the Population Registration Act, a core pillar of the apartheid system. The act had classified citizens by race—Black, white, coloured, and Indian—governing all aspects of life, from where people could live to whom they could marry. Its repeal marked a major step toward dismantling institutional racism and transitioning to democracy. Though symbolic, the move also had practical implications, ending the state\’s ability to codify racial discrimination. It set the stage for the 1994 democratic elections and the emergence of the new South Africa. June 17 stands as a turning point in Black South Africans’ struggle for dignity and equality.
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