Immorality Act

Immorality Act

The Immorality Act (1950-1985) was one of the first Apartheid laws in South Africa. It attempted to forbid all sexual relations between whites and non-whites. In 1949, interracial marriages had been banned by the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act.

Consequences

On the grounds of the Immorality Act, the police tracked down racially mixed couples suspected of being in relationships. Homes were invaded, and mixed couples caught in bed were arrested. Underwear was used as forensic evidence in court.

Most couples found guilty were sent to jail. Blacks were often given harsher sentences than whites.

One of the first people convicted of the immorality act was a Cape Dutch Reformed minister, who was caught having sex with a domestic worker in his garage. He was given a suspended sentence, and the parishioners bulldozed the garage to the ground.

Repeal

In 1985, the Immorality Act and Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act were both repealed by Pieter Botha.

References

* [http://www.rebirth.co.za/apartheid_and_immorality2.htm Apartheid: Mixed marriages and the immorality act]
* [http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/chronology/thisday/1926-09-30.htm Commencement of the Immorality Act]


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  • Immorality Act — Der Immorality Act, Act No. 2 / 1927 (deutsch etwa: Unsittlichkeitsgesetz) war ein Gesetz zur Umsetzung südafrikanischer Rassenpolitik während der Zeit der Apartheid. Im Jahr 1927 erließ man den Immorality Act, der sexuelle Beziehungen zwischen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Immorality — Im mo*ral i*ty, n.; pl. {Immoralities}. [Cf. F. immoralit[ e].] 1. The state or quality of being immoral; vice. [1913 Webster] The root of all immorality. Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster] 2. An immoral act or practice. [1913 Webster] Luxury and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • immorality — [im΄ôr al′i tē, im΄ō ral′ i tē] n. 1. the state or quality of being immoral 2. immoral behavior 3. pl. immoralities an immoral act or practice; vice …   English World dictionary

  • immorality — noun Date: circa 1566 1. the quality or state of being immoral; especially unchastity 2. an immoral act or practice …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • immorality — /im euh ral i tee, im aw /, n., pl. immoralities. 1. immoral quality, character, or conduct; wickedness; evilness. 2. sexual misconduct. 3. an immoral act. [1560 70; IMMORAL + ITY] * * * …   Universalium

  • immorality — noun a) The state or quality of being immoral; vice. b) An immoral act or practice. See Also: amorality …   Wiktionary

  • immorality — I (Roget s IV) n. Syn. vice, depravity, dissoluteness; see evil 1 , lewdness , sin . II (Roget s Thesaurus II) noun 1. A wicked act or wicked behavior: crime, deviltry, diablerie, evil, evildoing, iniquity, misdeed, offense, peccancy, sin,… …   English dictionary for students

  • immorality — im·mo·ral·i·ty || ‚ɪmÉ™ rælÉ™tɪ n. state of being immoral, wickedness, lack of principles, depravity; wicked or evil act, atrocity …   English contemporary dictionary

  • immorality — n. 1. Wickedness, vice, sin, sinfulness, depravity, corruption, corruptness, demoralization, criminality, profligacy, want of principle. 2. Immoral action, sin, vice, wrong, wrong act …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • immorality — im•mo•ral•i•ty [[t]ˌɪm əˈræl ɪ ti, ˌɪm ɔ [/t]] n. pl. ties 1) immoral quality, character, or conduct 2) sexual misconduct 3) an immoral act …   From formal English to slang

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