South Africa History timeline Love & Simon

By tt55

  • 1816-1826

    Shaka Zulu foundation and expands the Zulu empire, creates a formidable fighting force.

  • 1835-1840

    Bóers leave Cape Colony in the “Great Trek” and found the Orange Free State and the Transvaal.

  • 1860-1911

    Arrival of thousands of labourers and traders from India, forebears of the majority of South Africa’s current Indian population

  • 1867

    Diamonds discovered at Kimberley

  • 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.

  • Mid 1880s

    Gold is discovered in the Transvaal, triggering the gold rush.

  • 1899

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

  • 1913

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

  • 1934

    The Union of South Africa parliament enacts the Status of the Union Act, which declares the country to be "a sovereign independent state". The move followed on from Britain's passing of the Statute of Westminster in 1931, which removed the last vestiges of British legal authority over South Africa.

  • Apartheid set in Law 1934-1948

  • 1948

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

  • 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.

  • 1960

    Seventy black demonstrators killed at Sharpeville. ANC banned.

  • 1960s

    International pressure against government begins, South Africa excluded from Olympic Games.

  • 1961

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

  • 1964

    ANC leader Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment.

  • 1989

    FW de Klerk replaces PW Botha as president, meets Mandela. Public facilities desegregated. Many ANC activists freed.

  • 1991

    Start of multi-party talks. De Klerk repeals remaining apartheid laws, international sanctions lifted. Major fighting between ANC and Zulu Inkatha movement.

  • 1994

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