The racial policy of apartheid was enforced in South Africa from 1948-1991. It included strict segregation of Blacks from Whites in land ownership, residence, marriage, work, education, religion and sport. This segregation came from the Dutch settlers since the 17th century.

In 1948 an apartheid law was issued which referred to job reservation, trade union separation and parliamentary representation of non-Whites.

The Bantustans (homelands) was created for the Bantu-speaking people of South Africa.

In 1984 restrictions started to ease off and a subordinate parliament chambers for Indian and Coloureds was created. Also the rules for sport and leisure were less strict by stopping the pass laws. Furthermore, the Group Areas Act was modified.

But only by international pressure were all the apartheid legislation abolished by the government of President F.W. de Klerk. In December 1991 a Convention for a Democratic South Africa held with the government and 18 political groups to change the constitution.

March 1992 de Klerk called on White voters for negotiation. He received an overwhelming support and stated the famous word "to close the book on apartheid". It was confirmed in a multiparty election in April 1994 and the National Congress leader Nelson Mandela was the first Black President.

The world will be looking at South Africa when the World Cup will be held in 2010. I am sure we all will be thinking what will it be? They made a tremendous effort since then to put the apartheid behind them. However, I read an article in the newspaper that there 50 peoples murdered every day and no comment on colour. Yet FIFA decided to hold the Football World Cup there.

With all due respect to Nelson Mandela and I am sure he did a lot to bring about the apartheid and segregation to be abolished. Yet you wonder when you read that there are 50 people murdered every day what really went on and is going on?  Where was and is the progress?