Apartheid-era South Africa is often rememberes for its strict and oppressive racial segregation policies. Implemented by the National Party government in 1948, these laws categorized the population into four main racial groups: White, Native (black), Coloured, and Indian. Each group experienced different levels of rights and privileges, with white South Africans enjoying the most freedom and benefits. Amid this systemic racism, the concept of “Honorary Whites” emerged as a notable exception, allowing certain non-white visitors from other countries to enjoy the privileges reserved for the Europeans in South Africans.
The “Honorary White” status was not a formal legal category but a status granted by the South African apartheid government. This practice began in the 1960s to accommodate international figures whose presence in South Africa was considered beneficial for the state’s diplomatic or economic interests. Factors influencing the decision to grant this status included the individual’s prominence, diplomatic relations between Apartheid South Africa and their home country, and the potential benefits of their visit.
This status was often extended to individuals from countries with strong economic or political ties to South Africa. It allowed them to travel, conduct business, move freely within the country, and access facilities designated for whites only.
In the 1960s, the entire Japanese population was designated as “honorary whites” following a significant trade agreement with Japan. This status granted the Japanese all the rights and privileges of whites, except for the right to vote, and exempted them from conscription.
Similarly, Taiwanese nationals visiting Apartheid South Africa for diplomatic or business purposes often received this special status, reflecting Taiwan’s significant trading relationship with South Africa.
Occasionally, sports teams and entertainers from non-white countries were also granted Honorary White status to participate in events and use amenities otherwise restricted to whites. For instance, in 1976, when the New Zealand rugby team toured South Africa, the team included six non-white players. The apartheid government extended Honorary White status to these players, allowing them to enter white-only businesses, and use trains, buses, hospitals, and other facilities that would otherwise be off-limits due to their race.
In 1973, Arthur Ashe became the first black professional to compete in South Africa’s National Championships. Before his arrival, he was offered Honorary White status, which he declined, insisting on being recognized as a Black man. Ashe also demanded that all facilities where he played be integrated and that he be allowed unrestricted access to any part of the country. After an initial delay, the South African apartheid government eventually granted his visa and met all his conditions.
Ashe participated in the 1973 South African Open, finishing second in the singles and winning the doubles. He would return to South Africa three more times. During one of these visits, he established the Arthur Ashe Tennis Center and Library in Soweto, where black South Africans could play tennis without fear of arrest.
The practice of granting Honorary White status persisted for decades and was both accepted and rejected by many notable visitors from other races. Domestically, it was met with resentment. For black South Africans, who owned the land, the idea that certain foreigners could temporarily “become white” and enjoy the benefits that comes with it, while they, the rightful owners of the land, were treated poorly, highlighted the injustices and absurdities of apartheid. This practice fueled further distrust and animosity toward the apartheid government.
The distrust and animosity generated by policies such as Honorary Whites contributed significantly to the broader resistance against apartheid. Protests, strikes, and other forms of civil disobedience became more frequent and widespread as the injustices of the apartheid system became increasingly intolerable.
13 year-old Hector Pieterson being carried by Mbuyisa Makhubo after being shot by the South African police during a protest against apartheid. His sister, Antoinette Sithole, runs beside them. Pieterson was rushed to a local clinic where he was declared dead on arrival.
By the 1980s, the apartheid government faced mounting internal and external pressure. Widespread civil unrest, economic sanctions, and international isolation strained the regime’s ability to maintain its oppressive policies. The persistence and bravery of protestors ultimately led to its downfall.
In 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and negotiations for a democratic South Africa began in earnest. The apartheid legislation was dismantled, culminating in the historic 1994 elections that saw Nelson Mandela elected as the country’s first black president. This marked the end of apartheid and the beginning of a new era.
While apartheid officially ended with the establishment of a democratic government in 1994, the memories of practices such as “Honorary white” continue to inform discussions about racial discrimination.
