South Africa : History & Chronology

Prepare your travel to South Africa

I.Chronology of South africa

to - 40 000 - 25 000 years: The oldest known inhabitants have developed the culture of the Bushmen, hunter-gatherers who have left their mark as the cave paintings.

1497: Discovery of Natal by Vasco da Gama.

1700: The first Bantu reach the Vaal River.

1795: First British occupation which prevent the revolutionary France to seize the colony.

1835: The abolition of slavery.

1855: Foundation of Pretoria by the Boers. It became the capital of the Transvaal in 1860.

1879: Anglo-Zulu War, British defeat at Isandhlwana.

1922: Revolt of the worker Witwatersrand.

1928: L, 'Afrikaans language and becomes the country adopts a flag and an anthem.

1931: Monetary and Financial Crisis. Voting rights granted to women (white).

1939: Hertzog is defeated in parliament. Marshal Jan Smuts succeeded him and urges South Africa in the Second World War alongside the Allies.

1944: Founding of the youth league of the ANC Nelson Mandela.

1948: National Party wins general elections, government composed exclusively of Afrikaners.

1949: Act on the prohibition of mixed marriages.

1950: Act criminalizing sexual relations between white and nonwhite.

1952: Act on the internal passport.

1959: Foundation of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) by ANC dissidents.

1960: Referendum on November 2 on the establishment of the republic (validated to 52% of the vote).

1961: Founding of the Republic of South Africa. Withdrawal of the Commonwealth. Beginning of the armed struggle of the ANC.

1963: Nelson Mandela is sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism and other ANC leaders, imprisoned or exiled.

1974: Exclusion of the UN General Assembly.

1975: Independence of Angola and Mozambique.

1976: Riots in the township of Soweto against Afrikaans as the compulsory education.

1977: Murder by the police of Steve Biko, leader of Black Consciousness.

1984: New constitution. Growth of Parliament tricameral open to Indians and Metis, approved by referendum.

1985: Revolt of the townships.

1988: Cease fire in Angola. Withdrawal of troops from South Africa and Cuba.

1990: Release of Nelson Mandela.

1991: Formal abolition of apartheid.

1992: Referendum in which 68% of whites approve of the constitutional negotiations with the ANC.

1994: Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa.

1999: Thabo Mbeki became the second black president of South Africa.

2001: World Conference against Racism organized by the UN.

2004: Victory for the first time the ANC in the nine provinces.

Source : 2008