Characteristics of the apartheid regime (IV): Economic discrimination

Recognizing the need for non-white workers, yet with the desire to live apart from the black majority in the workplace, several laws were introduced with the aim of achieving racial segregation throughout the country's economic sector.

The 1911 "Mines and Works Act" held a key position in securing this situation and prevented non-whites from occupying a wide range of jobs ('job reservation'). The 1926 "Mines and Works Amendment Act" represented an attempt by the government to favor white and colored skilled workers by introducing a system in which diplomas and certificates could only be issued to these groups and not to blacks and Indians. Together with the 1922 "Apprenticeship Act", which regulated apprenticeships, and a host of other regulations, the "Mines and Works Amendment Act" led to almost complete 'reservation' of the more skilled tasks for whites. The South African Railway provides a good example of the impact of this law.

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Changes to the numbers of workers according to race, 1924-1933

Obsolete during the Second World War, the 'job reservation' concept enjoyed a true rebirth at the end of the 50s. However, faced with a fast-growing economy during the 1960s and 70s, the white-run government was forced to cave in from demands from industry for a relaxing of the 'color bar' throughout industry: South Africa's booming economy increasingly needed qualified workers and demand could not be met by the country's white population alone.

These laws, some of which were of a "nip-in-the-bud" nature, were primarily intended to stop blacks growing into cheap competition for whites. At the same time they were also intended to form the legal framework for unrestricted exploitation of blacks, by banning union affiliations, the right to strike and free collective bargaining. An interesting aspect here is the support given by employers for the lifting of these job discrimination laws.

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In the summer of 1978 (...) the employers of the South African iron and steel industry were able to force the unions to accept an agreement which prevented skin color from being a criteria in taking on new workers. At the same time, the influential "Association of South African Chambers of Commerce" encouraged the rest of industry to follow the example set by the iron and steel industry and to abolish racial discrimination. In addition to this, the bosses at the chambers of commerce demanded that black trade unions be given full recognition in wage negotiations. The unexpected emergence of employers as champions of basic trade union rights is worthy of note (...).

For the white trade unions, however, this was a shock (...). The trade union boss, Arrie Paulus, even promised that he and his comrades would "fight the betrayal of the white man to the last drop of blood".

[Taken and translated from: Erich Wiedemann, "Wir reiten, bis wir im Blut versinken", Rassenstaat Südafrika, Hamburg 1981, 44-45]

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Example of a monthly payment arrangement —  Rietspruit coal mine

Job categories:

[Taken and translated from: Südafrikanische Digest, Nr.15/1987, 9]

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[Further characteristics of the apartheid regime: Homelands, classification, society, politics]

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