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Union of South Africa.
the Union of South Africa was formed under British dominion. It was exactly eight years after the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging, which had brought the Second Anglo-Boer War to an end.
Each of the four unified states was allowed to keep its existing franchise qualifications and Cape Colony was the only one which permitted voting by (property owning) non-whites. -
Adoption of the Freedom Charter
Made by the Congress of the People. It stated that;
Their country will never be prosperous or free until all of their people live in brotherhood, enjoying equal rights and opportunities; that only a democratic state, based on the will of all the people, can secure to all their birthright without distinction of colour, race, sex or belief; And therefore, we, the people of South Africa, black and white together equals, countrymen and brothers adopt this Freedom Charter; -
Women's March
It was against the Pass Law. Over 20,000 women, of all races, marched through the streets of Pretoria to the Union Buildings to hand over a petition to JG Strijdom, South Africa's prime minister, over the introduction of the new pass laws and the Group Areas Act No 41 of 1950.
This act enforced different residential areas for different races and led to forced removals of people living in 'wrong' areas. -
The Sharpeville Massacre
At least 180 black Africans were injured (there are claims of as many as 300) and 69 were killed when South African police opened fire on approximately 300 demonstrators, who were protesting against the pass laws, at the township of Sharpeville, -
The Durban Strike
The strike was motivated by the material need and underpinned by principles of democracy and equality.
It lasted from January to March.
The strikes conjoined academics, workers and political leaders among others, in a struggle that was to redefine the South African political landscape in the years to follow. -
The Student Uprising
Occured in Soweto. It is commemorated today by a South African national holiday, Youth day, which honors all the young people who lost their lives in the struggle against Apartheid and Bantu Education.
-Because of the government's homelands policy, no new high schools were built in Soweto between 1962 and 1971 -- students were meant to move to their relevant homeland to attend the newly built schools there. -
Steven Biko
He died while in custody of the South African police.
It is understood Mr Biko died in hospital in Pretoria. The government minister of Justice and Police, James Kruger, stated that Mr Biko had been transferred 740 miles from Port Elizabeth to Pretoria for medical attention following a 17 hunger strike.
Steven Biko had been in custody since Aug. 18th when he was arrested and detained under the Terrorism Act. He is the 20th person to die in custody during the past 18 months. -
Nelson Mandela.
He was a South African activist and former president. Nelson helped bring an end to apartheid and has been a global advocate for human rights.
He was a leader of both peaceful protests and armed resistance against the white minority’s oppressive regime in a racially divided South Africa.
His actions landed him in prison for nearly three decades and made him the face of the antiapartheid movement both within his country and internationally.
~He was releashed from prison on this day. -
First Democratic Election.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was the first President of South Africa to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, serving in the office from 1994-99.
Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of the African National Congress's armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe.
The courts convicted him on charges of sabotage, as well as other crimes committed while he led the movement against apartheid. He served 27 years in prison. -
Truth and Reconcilation Commission.
It was a presentation of the report to President Mandella.
It was a court-like restorative justice body assembled in South Africa after the abolition of apartheid. Witnesses who were identified as victims of gross human rights violations were invited to give statements about their experiences, and some were selected for public hearings.
Perpetrators of violence could also give testimony and request amnesty from both civil and criminal prosecution. It was generally thought to have been successful
