Af 2

South Africa

By Marie Juul Nielsen
  • Nov 1, 1400

    4th century

    4th century - Migrants from the north settle, joining the indigenous San and Khoikhoi people.
  • Nov 2, 1497

    1497

    1497 - Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama lands on Natal coast.

  • 1652

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

  • 1795

    1795 - British forces seize Cape Colony from the Netherlands. Territory is returned to the Dutch in 1803; ceded to the British in 1806.

  • 1816-1826

    1816-1826 - Shaka Zulu founds and expands the Zulu empire, creates a formidable fighting force.

  • 1852

    1852 - British grant limited self-government to the Transvaal.

  • 1856

    1856 - Natal separates from the Cape Colony.

  • 1880-1881

    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.

  • 1885

    Abouth 1885- Gold is discovered in the Transvaal, triggering the gold rush.

  • 1902

    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.

  • 1910

    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.

  • 1913

    1913 - Land Act introduced to prevent blacks, except those living in Cape Province, from buying land outside reserves.

  • 1948

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

  • 1950

    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.

  • 1961

    1961 - South Africa declared a republic, leaves the Commonwealth. Mandela heads ANC's new military wing, which launches sabotage campaign.

  • 1964

    1964 - ANC leader Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment.

  • 1970s

    1970s - More than 3 million people forcibly resettled in black 'homelands'.

  • 1976

    1976 - More than 600 killed in clashes between black protesters and security forces during uprising which starts in Soweto.

  • 1990

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

  • 1994 April

    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.