Four Families in South Africa : Where Apartheid Stands in S. Africa

Last month, white South Africans overwhelmingly endorsed the dismantling of apartheid in a nationwide referendum. An unprecedented 85% of the 3.3 million eligible voters went to the polls, and 68.6% said “yes” to reforms. Blacks, Coloreds and Indians were not allowed to vote.

Now, President Frederik W. de Klerk’s government is negotiating with the African National Congress, the country’s largest black political group, and 19 other organizations on a new constitution and an interim government that would include the black majority for the first time in South Africa’s history.

Since 1989, many apartheid barriers have fallen. Neighborhoods and public facilities are no longer segregated, black opposition groups have been legalized, and blacks may buy land anywhere in the country. But blacks still cannot vote, and de facto segregation of schools and other institutions persists.