confirmation of apartheid (1917)

[Barnhart]

I pass along the following quotation.  I am looking for confirmation.

The word apartheid was coined by General Smuts at the Savoy Hotel, London,
on May 27, 1917, but was not much used until 1947 when Dr Malan, the then
prime minister of South Africa, was looking for a word to soften the edge
of _segregasie_, segregation.  Terry Coleman, "The creed of Africa's race
apart," _Manchester Guardian Weekly_, Jan. 6, 1985, p 8

Thanks for any help in confirming this account.

Regards,
David

barnhart at highlands.com