Population Registration Act, 1950

The Population Registration Act of 1950 was a South African apartheid law that required all citizens to be classified into one of three racial groups: white, black, or coloured, based on their ancestry, physical characteristics, and other factors. This classification determined their rights and privileges under apartheid, with whites holding the most power and blacks the least. The law was a key component of the apartheid system, enforcing racial segregation and discrimination.