South Africa's Government before 1994

What type of government did South Africa have until 1994?

Was it:

A) a democracy

B) an oligarchy

C) an autocracy

D) a federation

Answer:

B) an oligarchy.

An oligarchy is defined as "a form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people."

Until the early 1990s, South Africa had an oligarchy government system. This means that power was concentrated in the hands of a small number of white South Africans, either Afrikaners or of English ancestry. Only white individuals were allowed to participate in the government and hold political offices.

It wasn't until 1994 when Nelson Mandela was elected president in an election that was open to all people of South Africa, marking a shift towards a more inclusive and democratic government system.

During the oligarchy period, the government in South Africa could be characterized as oppressive and exclusionary, with policies that favored the white minority population. This system of governance limited the rights and participation of the majority of the population based on race.

The election of Nelson Mandela in 1994 was a significant turning point in the history of South Africa, leading to the establishment of a more representative and inclusive government that aimed to address the injustices of the past.