This Day in History: February 20, 1950
Additional Date: February 20, 1950
The Population Registration Bill was read for the first time in Parliament. The Bill was a cornerstone of the Apartheid policy as it recognised three race classifications, namely Whites, Coloureds and Natives (Blacks). Indians were initially classified as Coloureds until a fourth racial group was added later. An office of race classification was set up to oversee the classification process. The Population Registration Act (No. 30 of 1950), promulgated on 7 July 1950, made the Group Areas, Immorality and Mixed Marriages Acts possible.