The term "group areas act" typically refers to a policy associated with the apartheid era in South Africa. Specifically, the Group Areas Act of 1950 was legislation that enforced racial segregation in urban areas by designating specific residential zones for different racial groups. The act aimed to control and limit the areas where non-white South Africans could live, work, and own property.
The effects of the Group Areas Act were significant and led to forced removals of non-white populations from designated areas, contributing to social and economic disparities. The act is often regarded as a critical component of the broader system of apartheid, which enforced racial discrimination and segregation across various aspects of life in South Africa.
The Group Areas Act was eventually repealed in the early 1990s as part of the process of dismantling apartheid and moving towards a democratic South Africa.