The Group Areas Act was a law enacted in South Africa in 1950 during the apartheid era. Its primary purpose was to segregate different racial groups by designating specific areas where each group could live, work, and own property. This legislation aimed to enforce racial separation and control the movement of non-white populations within urban areas. Under the Group Areas Act, many non-white South Africans were forcibly removed from their homes and relocated to designated areas, often far from their jobs and communities. This act contributed to widespread social and economic disruption, reinforcing the systemic inequalities that characterized apartheid and leading to significant resistance and protests from affected communities.