Which of the following denotes racial discrimination followed in South Africa?

The correct option is Apartheid.

Step-by-step Explanation:

1. Understanding Apartheid: Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was officially implemented by the National Party government in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s. Under this system, the population was divided into racial groups (primarily Black, White, Coloured, and Asian/Indian), and the white minority held political, social, and economic dominance over the non-white majority.
2. Characteristics of the System: The laws of Apartheid forced different racial groups to live in separate areas, attend separate schools, and use separate public facilities. It also stripped non-white South Africans of their basic civil rights, including the right to vote and the freedom of movement within their own country.

Analyzing the Other Options:
- Assimilation: This refers to the process by which a minority group or culture comes to resemble or adapt to the customs and beliefs of a dominant group, which is not a policy of forced racial segregation.
- Reservation: In a sociological or political context, reservation typically refers to setting aside lands or quotas (such as jobs or educational seats) for specific communities, which does not define the South African policy of racial segregation.
- Prejudice: This is a general psychological and social term referring to preconceived opinions or attitudes towards a group of people, whereas Apartheid was a specific legal and state-sponsored system of discrimination.