Apartheid was originally brought about by the Boers, specifically the National Party who gained political power in South Africa. The NP, being an all-white government and ruled by Dr. D.F. Malan, came into power in the year of 1948 which saw the enforcement of racial segregation. The word "apartheid" is Afrikaans for segregation/being apart. The Apartheid-era came to an end in 1994 when people of all races were allowed to cast a vote in the elections. Nelson Mandela was the voted as South Africa's next president (ironically enough also South Africa's first black president).