What was the primary aim of the Group Areas Act during apartheid?

The primary aim of the Group Areas Act during apartheid was to enforce the segregation of living spaces based on race. This legislation, passed in 1950, was a key component of the apartheid system that sought to create separate residential areas for different racial groups in South Africa. The underlying goal was to institutionalize racial discrimination and maintain the dominance of the white minority over the black majority by controlling where people could live.

By delineating specific areas where each racial group was permitted to reside, the Act contributed to the broader framework of apartheid, which aimed to minimize contact between races and ensure that white South Africans retained control over political, social, and economic resources. The consequences of the Group Areas Act were profound, resulting in forced removals, urban planning that marginalized black communities, and the further entrenchment of racial divisions within South African society.

Other options, such as economic development for all citizens, encouragement of interracial relations, and establishing equal rights for minorities, do not align with the historical functions and objectives of the Group Areas Act, as it was specifically designed to enforce segregation and uphold white supremacy rather than promote equality or integration.