South Africa History Timeline & Facts

Concise History of South Africa

3000BC - 1000BC Evidence of migration of people from Somalia and Ethiopia

The Zulus, who belong to the Nguni-speaking peoples, constitute the majority of the population.

Other tribes include the Khoi, San, and Xhosa

0-1000 AD400 AD - Migration of the Bantu peoples into South

Africa700 AD - Trade with the Arabs and Phoenicians in ivory,

rhino horn, gold, shells and slaves

1400-1600Zulu and Xhosa tribes establish large kingdoms in the South Africa region

1480 - Portuguese navigator Bartholomeu Dias first European to travel round the southern tip of Africa1652 - The Dutch establish the port of Cape Town. They are the first Europeans to settle in South Africa

1800’s1852 - The British take control of Cape Town.

1867 - Diamonds discovered at Kimberley

1886 - Gold is discovered in Johannesburg, making the city rich

1899-1902 Dutch settlers fight the British in the Boer War. Britain eventually gains control of South Africa

Gold is discovered in the 1880’s

Early 1900’s 1910 - South Africa becomes an independent nation.

1912 - Native National Congress founded, later renamed the African National Congress (ANC).

1913 - Land Act introduced preventing Blacks from purchasing land

1918 - Rolihlahla Dalibhunga Mandela is born on July 18 in a small village in South Africa. A teacher later gives him the English name Nelson.

1950’s1948 - Apartheid is introduced. Laws legally and physically separate different racial groups

1950 - Group Areas Act passed to segregate black and white people1950 – 1952 The African National Congress (ANC) led by Nelson Mandela initiates a civil disobedience. Defiance of Unjust Laws as a protest against apartheid

1960’s1960 - In the town of Sharpeville, 67 Africans are killed while protesting Apartheid.

1961 - South Africa declared a republic

1962 - Mandela is arrested for plotting against the government. Though he stays active politically, he will spend 27 years in prison.

1964 - Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment

1970 – 1980

1970's- 1980's Civil unrest, sanctions imposed on South Africa, forced resettlement process and Township revolts. More than 3 million people forcibly resettled in black 'homelands’

Black protesters are killed in an uprising in Soweto

1990-1991

1990 - President F.W. de Klerk announces the end

of apartheid.

1990 - Nelson Mandela released from prison

after 27 years.

1991 - De Klerk repeals remaining apartheid laws

and international sanctions are lifted

President F.W. de Klerk

1993 - De Klerk and Mandela are jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

1994 - South Africa holds its first elections in which all races can vote.

1995-1996

1994Nelson Mandela is elected President

1995-1996 1995 - South Africa

hosts and wins the World Cup soccer tournament.

1996 - Truth and Reconciliation Commission begins hearings on human rights crimes committed by former government and liberation movements during apartheid era.

1996 - 1999

1996 - Parliament adopts new constitution. National Party withdraws from coalition, saying it is being ignored.

1998 - Truth and Reconciliation Commission report brands apartheid a crime against humanity and finds the ANC accountable for human rights abuses.

1999 - Mandela steps down as President 

2000 - 2008Thabo Mbeki is the voted to

be the next president

He denies HIV causes AIDS

Prevalence rates rise to 30%, among the highest in

the world

2008-2009Jacob Zuma is elected

president

South Africa continues construction of stadiums and roads to prepare for 2010 World Cup Soccer

Tournament