How did mixed race marriages work in the apartheid years?

During the apartheid era in South Africa, mixed-race marriages were prohibited under the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act of 1949. This law made it illegal for people of different racial groups to marry each other. The law was part of the government's policy of racial segregation, which aimed to keep the different racial groups separate from each other.

The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act had a number of consequences for mixed-race couples. Many couples were forced to live in secret or travel to other countries to get married. Some couples were even deported from South Africa. The law also made it difficult for mixed-race couples to have children, as it was illegal for them to adopt or have children through artificial insemination.

The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act was eventually repealed in 1985. However, the legacy of the law continues to affect mixed-race couples in South Africa today. Many people still face discrimination and prejudice because of their race.

Here are some specific examples of how mixed-race marriages worked in the apartheid years:

* Couples who were married before the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act was passed were allowed to stay married, but they were not allowed to have children.

* Couples who wanted to get married after the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act was passed had to travel to another country to do so.

* Couples who lived together in South Africa without getting married were often harassed by the police.

* Mixed-race couples who had children were often forced to give them up for adoption.

The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act was a cruel and discriminatory law that had a devastating impact on mixed-race couples in South Africa. The legacy of the law continues to affect mixed-race couples today.