The official policy of racial segregation in South Africa was known as Apartheid. Officially implemented in 1948, Apartheid was designed to maintain white minority rule and suppress the rights and freedoms of the majority black population. This system enforced racial segregation in all aspects of life, including education, healthcare, and public facilities, and restricted black South Africans' rights to vote and own property. The resistance against Apartheid, led by figures like Nelson Mandela, ultimately led to its dismantling in the early 1990s, marking a significant transformation towards a more inclusive democracy in South Africa.