Racial Discrimination means any distinction, exclusion or restriction based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin which has the effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition or enjoyment, on equal footing of human rights. Racial discrimination denies fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life. Apartheid is a state imposed system of racial discrimination, practiced in South Africa. Under Apartheid, black or coloured South Africans, the overwhelming majority of the people in the country, were denied fundamental liberties and rights. They were not allowed to participate in the political life of the country and were subject to various repressive laws and regulations. There were separate townships, buses, coaches, trains, park benches, toilets, shops, hospitals, sports grounds, schools and even churches for each of the races. Any marriage between the whites and the non-whites was not allowed. In short the whites considered themselves the master race and the non-whites as inferior beings.