📅 27 Juni 1951
The law created state-controlled tribal, regional and territorial authorities. It laid administrative foundations for the Bantustan system and excluded Africans from common citizenship.
📅 5 Oktober 1953
The apartheid state took control of African schooling and designed education to prepare Black children for subordinate labour. Communities, teachers and the ANC opposed the system.
📅 3 September 1958
Verwoerd, previously the minister responsible for Bantu Education, became prime minister and intensified the apartheid programme of racial separation and Bantustans.
📅 19 Juni 1959
The act abolished limited African parliamentary representation and divided Africans into state-defined ethnic units. It advanced the Bantustan project while denying common South African citizenship.
📅 22 Maart 1960
Prime Minister Verwoerd praised the police and denied that the violence reflected opposition to apartheid. Authorities also detained PAC leaders and prepared sedition charges.
📅 30 Maart 1960
The government imposed emergency rule across major urban areas and detained more than 2,000 people, using exceptional powers to suppress the expanding anti-pass movement.
📅 7 April 1960
The act gave the government power to declare organizations unlawful. It created the legal mechanism used immediately against the main African liberation movements.
📅 23 Januari 1961
Dag Hammarskjöld reported that talks with South Africa had failed to produce a mutually acceptable arrangement on racial policy, underscoring the government's refusal to change course.
📅 15 Maart 1961
Facing criticism from Commonwealth leaders over apartheid, Verwoerd withdrew South Africa's application to remain after becoming a republic.
📅 31 Mei 1961
South Africa became a republic and left the Commonwealth. A nationwide stay-at-home challenged a constitutional change made without consent of the Black majority.
