Hendrik Verwoerd, the Prime Minister of South Africa and a key architect of the apartheid system, was assassinated during a parliamentary session in Cape Town. The incident unfolded as Verwoerd was addressing the Parliament, discussing policies that maintained racial segregation and discrimination against the non-white population in South Africa. A parliamentary visitor, Dimitri Tsafendas, suddenly attacked Verwoerd with a concealed knife, inflicting fatal wounds. Verwoerd was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.

His assassination was not just a personal attack but a broader expression of the widespread discontent with apartheid among many South Africans and international observers. Verwoerd's policies had institutionalized profound racial disparities in South Africa, creating deep divisions and resistance among various communities. Tsafendas, who claimed to be acting out of a sense of moral duty, was tried and found to be mentally unstable.

The political dynamics in South Africa shifted in the wake of Verwoerd’s death. His assassination sent shockwaves through the apartheid government, leading to changes in leadership strategies. While it did not end apartheid, it was a pivotal moment that highlighted the tensions and resistance against the oppressive system. The event became a symbol of the struggle against apartheid, influencing both domestic and international perspectives on South African politics.