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The population registration act
The Population Registration Act demands all South Africans be registered according to their racial group: White, Black or Coloured. (According to this act, Indians fell under the Coloured category). Group Areas Act passed to residentially segregate blacks and whites. Communist Party banned. African National Congress (ANC) protests with campaign of civil disobedience, led by Nelson Mandela. -
Sharpeville Massacre
Sharpeville massacre: Police shooting at peaceful demonstrators, against laws for Africans, in Sharpeville: 69 men, women and children were killed and about 200 wounded. ANC is banned. massacre: Police shooting at peaceful demonstrators, against laws for Africans, in Sharpeville: 69 men, women and children were killed and about 200 wounded. ANC is banned. -
Mandela goes to prison
Nelson Mandela was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. -
Mandela’s uprising
Mandela leads ANC’s new military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, which launches sabotage campaign against government. -
Rivonia trial
Mandela and other ANC members sentenced to life imprisonment. -
United Nations not having it
South Africa expelled from the UN because of apartheid. -
A relief
ANC ban is lifted. Mandela released after 27 years in prison. Namibia becomes independent. -
Everything’s normal again
ANC wins first democratic elections. Mandela becomes president, Government of National Unity formed, Commonwealth membership restored, remaining international sanctions lifted. South Africa returns to UN General Assembly after 20 years.
