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History of South Africa

By Stef_nielson
  • Nov 21, 1480

    First europeans

    1480s - Portuguese navigator Bartholomeu Dias is the first European to travel round the southern tip of Africa.

  • Cape Colony

    1652 - Jan van Riebeeck, representing the Dutch East India Company, founds the Cape Colony at Table Bay.

  • Boers leave the Cape Colony

    1835-1840 - Boers leave Cape Colony in the 'Great Trek' and found the Orange Free State and the Transvaal.

  • Proclaim the Transvaal a republic

    Late 1850s - Boers proclaim the Transvaal a republic.

  • Self-goverment to the Transvaal

    British grant limited self-government to the Transvaal

  • Sepertaes from Cape Colony

    Natal separates from the Cape Colony.

  • Diamonds discovered

    Diamonds discovered at Kimberley

  • Britain annexes the Transvaal

    1877 - Britain annexes (annektere) the Transvaal.

  • British defeat the Zulus

    1879 - British defeat the Zulus in Natal

  • Boers rebel against the British,

    1880-81 - Boers rebel against the British, sparking the first Anglo-Boer War. Conflict ends with a negotiated peace. Transvaal is restored as a republic.

  • Gold is discovered in the Transvaal,

    Mid 1880s - Gold is discovered in the Transvaal, triggering the gold rush.

  • The second Anglo-Boer War begins.

    1899 - British troops gather on the Transvaal border and ignore an ultimatum to disperse. The second Anglo-Boer War begins.

  • End of the second Anglo-Boer War.

    1902 - Treaty of Vereeniging ends the second Anglo-Boer War. The Transvaal and Orange Free State are made self-governing colonies of the British Empire.

  • Policy of apartheid

    1948 - Policy of apartheid (separateness) adopted when National Party (NP) takes power

  • Population classified by race

    1950 - Population classified by race. Group Areas Act passed to segregate blacks and whites. Communist Party banned. ANC responds with campaign of civil disobedience, led by Nelson Mandela.

  • leader Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonmen

    1964 - ANC leader Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonmen

  • Mandela released after 27 years in prison

    1990 - ANC unbanned, Mandela released after 27 years in prison. Namibia becomes independent.

  • Mandela become president,

    1994 April - ANC wins first non-racial elections. Mandela become president, Government of National Unity formed, Commonwealth membership restored, remaining sanctions lifted. South Africa takes seat in UN General Assembly after 20-year absence.