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The Cape Colony at Table Bay is founded
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British forces seize Cape Colony from the Netherlands.
Territory is returned to the Dutch in 1803; ceded to the British in 1806. -
Period: to
Shaka Zulu founds and expands the Zulu empire
creates a formidable fighting force. -
Period: to
Boers leave Cape Colony in the 'Great Trek' and found the Orange Free State and the Transvaal.
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Period: to
Arrival of thousands of labourers and traders from India
Forebears of the majority of South Africa's current Indian population. -
Diamonds discovered at Kimberley.
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British defeat the Zulus in Natal.
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Period: to
Boers rebel against the British
Sparking the first Anglo-Boer War. Conflict ends with a negotiated peace. Transvaal is restored as a republic. -
Treaty of Vereeniging ends the second Anglo-Boer War
The Transvaal and Orange Free State are made self-governing colonies of the British Empire. -
Formation of Union of South Africa
By former British colonies of the Cape and Natal, and the Boer republics of Transvaal, and Orange Free State.