What was the purpose of the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act, enacted in 1949?

The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act, enacted in 1949, specifically aimed to forbid marriages between individuals classified as belonging to different racial groups under the apartheid regime. This law was part of a broader strategy to enforce racial segregation and maintain the dominance of the white population in South Africa. By prohibiting mixed-race marriages, the government sought to promote the idea of racial purity and uphold the social order dictated by apartheid policies.

The legislation reflected the extreme measures taken to institutionalize racial discrimination, reinforcing the oppressive legal framework surrounding race relations in South Africa. The focus was not only on preventing marital unions across racial lines but also on fostering societal divisions that would perpetuate racial hierarchies. The other options, such as regulating education for non-whites, controlling urban movements, or classifying racial groups, are related to different aspects of apartheid policies but do not directly pertain to the specific intention of the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act.