Some South Africans argue that “say what you want about apartheid, at least stuff worked”. This implies that on basic service delivery, apartheid was better than now

The truth is “stuff worked” if you were white. The state neglected black people

Here are the facts

Thread /1

In 1996, the first national census of the Republic of South Africa was taken, less than two years after the end of apartheid

Data from that census revealed what apartheid rule from 1948-1994 had meant for South Africans’ quality of life /2

The apartheid state moulded a country where people of colour were only allowed to live in certain areas

The state systematically developed infrastructure and basic services for areas of white people, not black people /3

Apartheid state forcibly removed over three million black people from their homes from 1960 – 1983, often to undesirable land, often to areas with poor quality housing, too few houses, and little to no infrastructure (roads, electricity, sewerage systems) or basic services /4

Apartheid provided few or no basic services or infrastructure to black people

Regarding electricity, because of apartheid 56% of black South Africans had no access to electricity in 1996, meaning more than 17 million people had no access

99.6% of white people had electricity /5

Regarding water, because of apartheid, 25% of black South Africans had no access to piped water in 1996, meaning over 7 million people had no access

97% of white people had access to piped water /6

Regarding rubbish and refuse removal, because of apartheid, 59% of black South Africans did not have access to regular refuse removal in 1996, meaning over 18 million people had no access

92% of white people had access to regular refuse removal /7

Regarding toilets, 65% of black South Africans had no access to flush or chemical toilets in 1996, meaning over 20 million people had no access

99.6% of white people had access to flush or chemical toilets /8

Regarding housing, as a consequence of apartheid, 21% of black South Africans lived in informal housing in 1996, meaning over 6 million people lived in informal housing

0.1% of white people lived in informal housing /9

This thread is not defending current incompetence or appalling corruption

But since 1996, many millions of South Africans have gained access to electricity, housing, sewerage, clean water, refuse removal, censuses show

This combats the fantasy that apartheid was better /10