Rise and Fall of Apartheid: photography captures the protests and prejudice – in pictures

Jurgen Schadeberg, 26 August, 1952. The 29 ANC Women's League women are being arrested by the police for demonstrating against the permit laws, which prohibited them from entering townships without a permit, and were later kept in Boksburg Prison for 14 days Photograph: Jurgen Schadeberg

Unidentified photographer, part of the crowd near the Drill Hall on the opening day of the Treason Trial, 19 December, 1956
Photograph: Times Media Collection, Museum Africa, Johannesburg

Alf Khumalo, South Africa goes on trial. Outside the Palace of Justice during the Rivonia Trial, 1963. Police and crowd outside court. The whole world was watching when the three major sabotage trials started in Pretoria, Cape Town and Maritzburg Photograph: Courtesy of Bailey's Archive

Gille de Vlieg, Harriet Gavshon in Jan Smuts Ave, Johannesburg, 19 July, 1985. Part of a Black Sash protest stand in which protesters had to stand alone, or be arrested as an illegal gathering Photograph: Gille de Vlieg

Gille de Vlieg, SACP banner displayed at the funeral of the Cradock 4 (Matthew Goniwe, Ford Calata, Sparrow Mkonto, Sicelo Mhlauli) at Lingelihle Township, Cradock, Eastern Cape, 20 July, 1985 Photograph: Gille de Vlieg

Graeme Williams, South Africa, Soweto, 1989. ANC leader Walter Sisulu greets wellwishers who gathered at his home after his release from prison following 26 years of incarceration. On his right is his wife and fellow ANC activist, Albertina Sisulu Photograph: Graeme Williams

Graeme Williams, Right Wing, South Africa, Pretoria, 1990. Rightwing groups gather in Pretoria's Church Square to voice their anger at the FW de Klerk government's attempts to transform the country Photograph: Graeme Williams

Jodi Beiber, protest against Chris Hani's assassination, 1993 Photograph: Jodi Beiber/Goodman Gallery Johannesburg

Graeme Williams, South Africa, Soweto, 1994. A portrait of Nelson Mandela is painted on the grass at Soweto's largest football stadium (FNB Stadium) during an election rally held before South Africa's first democratic elections Photograph: Graeme Williams/International Center of Photography