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Adoption of the Freedom Charter
The campaign for the Congress of the People and the Freedom Charter united most of the liberation forces in South Africa. It served to consolidate an alliance of the anti-apartheid forces of the 1950s composed of the African National Congress, the South African Indian Congress, the South African Coloured People’s Congress, the South African Congress of Democrats and the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU) into a non-racial united front known as the Congress Alliance. -
Womans march against the pass law
The Federation famously challenged the idea that 'a woman's place is in the kitchen', declaring it instead to be 'everywhere'. -
Sharpeville massacre
Although the protests were anticipated, no one could have predicted the consequences and the repercussions this would have for South African and world politics. An article entitled "PAC Campaign will be test," published in the 19 March 1960 issue of Contact, the Liberal Party newspaper, described the build up to the campaign: -
student uprising in soweto
In 1975 the government was phasing out Standard Eight (or Junior Certificate (JC)). By then, Standard Six had already been phased out and many students graduating from Primary Schools were being sent to the emerging Junior Secondary Schools. It was in these Junior Secondary schools that the 50-50 language rule was to be applied. -
killing of steven biko
a noted anti- apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s. Because he was dissatisfied with the National Union of South African Students , he helped found the South African Students' Organisation in 1968 and elected its first president; in 1972 he became honorary president of the Black People's Convention. He was banned during the height of apartheid in March 1973, meaning that he was not allowed to speak to more than one person at a time and so could not make speeches in public. -
release of nelson mandela
released from prison after 27 years on February 11, 1990. Mandela subsequently led the ANC in its negotiations with the minority government for an end to apartheid and the establishment of a multiracial government. In 1993, Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. -
first democratic election
The number of eligible voters in 1994 was estimated at 21.7 million--about 16 million of whom had never voted before. In a radical departure from previous electoral practice, no formal voter register was prepared; instead, voters were asked to present identity books as proof of citizenship, and even this requirement was enforced with flexibility. -
presentation of the report of the truth
South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) held public sessions from 1996 to 1998, and concluded its work in 2004. In an attempt to rebuild its society without retribution. -
durban strike
The Durban Strikes were a turning point in the confrontation between the country's minority rulers and the worker majority.
