What was the major aim of apartheid in South Africa?

The major aim of apartheid in South Africa was to institutionalize racial segregation and discrimination, primarily to maintain white minority dominance over the majority Black population and other racial groups. This system sought to restrict non-white people's rights in areas such as education, employment, and residency, effectively enforcing social, political, and economic inequalities. By implementing laws that separated communities and limited interactions between different racial groups, apartheid aimed to preserve the privileges of white South Africans while suppressing the aspirations and rights of non-whites.