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May 20, 1497
Vasco da Gama lands on Natal coast
1497 - Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama lands on Natal coast. -
Jan van Riebeeck founds the Cape Colony at Table Bay
1652 - Jan van Riebeeck, representing the Dutch East India Company, founds the Cape Colony at Table Bay. -
Cape Colony seized by the British, Dutch, and back to the British
1795 - British forces seize Cape Colony from the Netherlands. Territory is returned to the Dutch in 1803; ceded to the British in 1806. -
Shake Zulu founds the Zulu Empire and expands it
1816-1826 - Shaka Zulu founds and expands the Zulu empire, creates a formidable fighting force. -
Boers proclaim the Transvaal a republic
Late 1850s - Boers proclaim the Transvaal a republic. -
Diamonds discovered at Kimberley
1867 - Diamonds discovered at Kimberley. -
Britain annexes the Transvaal
1877 - Britain annexes the Transvaal. -
The Zulus are defeated by the British in Natal
1879 - British defeat the Zulus in Natal. -
The First Anglo-Boer War begins
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 Transvaal triggering the gold rush
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. -
The Second Anglo-Boer War ends
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. -
The Formation of Union of South Africa
1910 - 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. -
The ANC is founded
1912 - Native National Congress founded, later renamed the African National Congress (ANC). -
The National Party founded
1914 - National Party founded. -
The Secret Brotherhood is established
1918 - Secret Broederbond (brotherhood) established to advance the Afrikaner cause. -
Policy of apartheid adopted,National Party takes power
1948 - Policy of apartheid (separateness) adopted when National Party (NP) takes power. -
ANC responds to Group Areas Act
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. -
Sharpeville Massacre
1960 - Seventy black demonstrators killed at Sharpeville. ANC banned. -
South Africa declares itself a republic
1961 - South Africa declared a republic, leaves the Commonwealth. Mandela heads ANC's new military wing, which launches sabotage campaign. -
Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment
1964 - ANC leader Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment -
Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd assassinated
1966 September - Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd assassinated. -
Soweto uprising
1976 - More than 600 killed in clashes between black protesters and security forces during uprising which starts in Soweto. -
FW de Klerk becomes president, public facilities desegrated, many ANC activists freed
1989 - FW de Klerk replaces PW Botha as president, meets Mandela. Public facilities desegregated. Many ANC activists freed. -
Mandela released from prison, Namibia becomes independent
1990 - ANC unbanned, Mandela released after 27 years in prison. Namibia becomes independent. -
Multi-party talks start, De Klerk repeals remaining apartheid laws and international sanctions
1991 - Start of multi-party talks. De Klerk repeals remaining apartheid laws, international sanctions lifted. Major fighting between ANC and Zulu Inkatha movement. -
Agreement on interim constitution
1993 - Agreement on interim constitution -
Mandela becomes 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. -
Parliament adopts new constitution, National Party withdraws coalition
1996 - Parliament adopts new constitution. National Party withdraws from coalition, saying it is being ignored. -
Thabo Mbeki
1999 - ANC wins general elections, Thabo Mbeki takes over as president. -
39 multi-national pharmaceutical companies stop a legal battle to stop South Africa importing generic Aids drugs
2001 April - 39 multi-national pharmaceutical companies halt a legal battle to stop South Africa importing generic Aids drugs. The decision is hailed as a victory for the world's poorest countries in their efforts to import cheaper drugs to combat the virus. -
An official panel considers allegations of corruption surrounding a 1999 arms deal involving British,French,German,Italian,Swedish, and South African firms
2001 May - An official panel considers allegations of corruption surrounding a 1999 arms deal involving British, French, German, Italian, Swedish and South African firms. In November the panel clears the government of unlawful conduct. -
Court orders government to provide anti-Aids drug at hospitals
Constitutional court orders government to provide key anti-Aids drug at all public hospitals. Government had argued drug was too costly. -
Government approves major programme to treat and tackle Aids
2003 November - Government approves major programme to treat and tackle HIV/Aids. It envisages network of drug-distributon centres and preventative programmes. Cabinet had previously refused to provide anti-Aids medicine via public health system. -
100,000 gold miners strike over pay bringing the industry to a standstill
2005 August - Around 100,000 gold miners strike over pay, bringing the industry to a standstill. -
same sex unions are allowed
South Africa becomes the 1st African country to allow same sex union -
Helen Zille elected leader of Democratic Alliance
Capetown Mayor -
Public sector mass strike
June - Hundreds of thousands of public-sector workers take part in the biggest strike since the end of apartheid. The strike lasts for four weeks and causes widespread disruption to schools, hospitals and public transport. -
Zuma elected chairman of the ANC
Zuma is elected chairman of the ANC, placing him in a strong position to become the next president. Prosecutors bring new corruption charges against him. -
The Congress of the People or Cope launched
A new political party is launched in Bloemfontein, in the first real challenge to the governing ANC. The Congress of the People - or Cope - is made up largely of defectors from the ANC and is headed by former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota. -
Charges dropped against Zuma
Public prosecutors drop corruption case against Jacob Zuma. -
Zuma elected President
Parliament elects Jacob Zuma as president. -
Hosts World Cup Football
South Africa hosts the World Cup football tournament. -
ANC suspends youth leader, Julius Malema
The ANC suspends its controversial and influential youth leader, Julius Malema, for five years for bringing the party into disrepute. -
Plot to kill Mandela stopped
Member of white extremist group found guilty of plotting to kill Mandela and trying to overthrow government. -
12,000 striking miners fired
Platinum mine owner Amplats fires 12,000 striking miners as wave of wildcat strikes shows little sign of abating. -
Zuma re-elected as leader of ANC
Mr Zuma re-elected as leader of the ANC. -
Migrants settle in South Africa
4th century - Migrants from the north settle, joining the indigenous San and Khoikhoi people. -
Period: to
History of South Africa
