Alan Paton/ South Africa

By McHaletr

  • 1985 Alan Panton

    His father, James Paton, a Scottish immigrant and civil servant, came to South Africa

  • 1899 South Africa

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

  • 1902 South Africa

    Treaty of Vereeniging ends the second Anglo-Boer War. The Transvaal and Orange Free State are made self-governing colonies of the British Empire.

  • 1903 Alan Paton

    Born:11 January 1903, Pietermaritzburg, Natal

  • 1910 South Africa

    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.

  • 1912 South Africa

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

  • 1913 South Africa

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

  • 1914 South Africa

    National Party founded.

  • 1918 South Africa

    Secret Broederbond (brotherhood) established to advance the Afrikaner cause.

  • 1919 South Africa

    South West Africa (Namibia) comes under South African administration.

  • 1934 South Africa

    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.

  • 1935 Alan Paton

    In 1935 Paton was appointed Principal of Diepkloof Reformatory for Young Offenders

  • 1940's Alan Paton

    During the 1940’s he travelled to Sweden, Norway and North America to study prisons and reformatories.

  • 1946 Alan Paton

    Paton began writing his first, and arguably most famous, novel, Cry, the Beloved Country, in 1946 in Trondheim, Norway.

  • 1948 South Africa

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

  • 1948 Alan Paton

    It was published in 1948 and was considered alternatively as revolutionary or sentimental by many White South Africans.

  • 1950 South Africa

    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.

  • 1953 Alan Paton

    In 1953 Paton’s desire to contribute socially inspired him and his wife to work at the Toc H Tuberculosis settlement in KwaZulu Natal.

  • 1960 South Africa

    Seventy black demonstrators killed at Sharpeville. ANC banned

  • 1961 South Africa

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

  • 1966 south africa

    September - Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd assassinated.

  • 1969 Alan Paton

    Dorrie died of emphysema in 1969

  • 1969 Alan Paton

    Paton published a book, Kontakion for you Departed, about their years together, in 1969

  • 1969 Alan Paton

    He married his secretary, Anne Hopkins

  • 1976 South Africa

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

  • 1988 Alan Paton

    He died in Durban on 12 April 1988

  • 1988 Alan Paton

    In April 1988 Paton was diagnosed with inoperable cancer of the throat.

  • 1990 South Africa

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

  • 1991 South Africa

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

  • 1993 South Africa

    Agreement on interim constitution.

  • 1994 South Africa

    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.

  • 1996 South Africa

    Truth and Reconciliation Commission chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu begins hearings on human rights crimes committed by former government and liberation movements during apartheid era.