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Dutch Boers and Afrikaners first came to South Africa
South Africa is abundant with useful resources such as good land for agriculture, unique minerals for manufacturing and mild climate. These factors attracted foreigners such as the Dutch Boers/ Afrikaners as well as the British, whom arrived to South Africa to claim lands and create colonies of their native country. -
Second Boer War Began
Diamonds were discovered in South Africa around the 1900 resulting in the English invading the Dutch territory to compete for the resource. This eventually turned into the second Boer War between the Dutch Boers and Englishmen. This war ended May 31, 1902. -
1913 Land Act Passed
The 1913 Land Act was passed after South Africa's independence and began with territorial segregation, separating the whites and Africans but forcing the Africans to live on reserves. The people who opposed the Land Act formed the South African National Native Congress which later became the African National Congress (ANC). -
Afrikaner National Party Gains Control and Begins Apartheid
The power went back and forth between the English and Dutch until the Afrikaner National Party gained a majority and took control of South Africa. They immediately began a system of apartheid, meant to control the economy and society. However, the government used apartheid to uphold the power of the whites over the majority population of Africans. Racial segregation policies were set and required any non-white race to live and use different facilities than the whites. -
Population Registration Act Passed
The act banned marriages and sexual relations between whites and other races. This strengthened apartheid by categorizing other races into groups; Bantu (Black Africans), Coloured (Mixed Race), White, and Asian (Indiand or Pakistani). Land Acts also set aside 80% of the land for the minority white families and all Africans and non-whites must carry citizenship and "pass books" or documents to identify them with their names, gender, fingerprints, photo ID and information on living area. -
Bantu Authorities Act Established
The Act separated African reserves into "homelands" and were independent states where the government assigned each African to live in according to their origin. This meant some families were separated and the married may not see each other for extensive periods. The idea was for each African to be a citizen of their homeland and have the political rights within the homeland, but their citizenship is taken away anywhere else in South Africa. -
Publc Safety Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act Passed
These two acts gave the government the power to declare states of emergencies when they desire and to increase the penalties for protesting against a law. The government could issue a state of emergency when they feel the county is in an emergency due to protests on apartheid or terrorist activities. Penalties include abuse (whipping), fines and jail sentences. -
Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd Became Prime Minister
Dr. Verwoerd adjusted the apartheid system into what he called "separate development." He established a Promotion of Bantu Self-Government Act in 1959 and created 10 Bantu homelands called Bantustans. These separated South Africans and blacks from one another to reduce the power of them uniting in South Africa and prevent the formation of nationalist organizations. -
Sharpeville Massacre and Nationalist Campaign Movement Banned
In March, thousands of black Africans protested at a police station in a South African township over new passed laws that restricted their travelling in white areas. The police opened fire at the protest kiling 69 unarmed Africans while the protesters fled, the police chased after them with guns and armored vehicles. A Nationalist Campaign Movement to stop the oppression of black South Africans by members of the ANC were banned from further campaigning. -
Nelson Mandela Jailed
Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for life for sabotaging the state of South Africa. He will later serve 27 years in jail, serving hard labour at Robben Island Prison off Cape Town in South Africa. -
Steven Biko founded the South African Student Organization (SASO)
Steven Biko founded SASO and stressed the need for black South Africans to become self-reliant and confident that they are not inferior and that they have as much intelligence and capability to succeed as others. This sparked the beginning of the Black Consciousness Movement that the white government highly disapproved. -
Steven Biko Banned
Steven Biko was banned to his home area of King William's Town in Eastern Cape due to his campaigns and black consciousness movement, yet he still continues his work in the Black Consciuosness Movement secretly, venturing out of his banned area from time to time to give speeches or spread his campaign. -
Soweto Uprising
In 1976, thousands of children in Soweto refused to learn the Afrikaans language taught to them in school that is required by all African students. The police fired tear gas and bullets at the children who protested against learning the language. This brought a lot of attention from other states and countries. -
Steven Biko Dies
Steven Biko was arrested for leaving his banned area and was tortured in detention. The police said he died due to a "hunger strike" but in truth, Biko died of serious brain damage through brutal treatment and lack of medical care. He died in the vehicle transporting him to a Pretoria Police Hospital 700 miles away as he laid naked on the vehicle floor with damage to his brain. His death captured the attention of many South Africans and people around the world on the brutality of the police. -
Donald Woods Flees South Africa
The newspaper editor, Donald Woods, and his family flees South Africa after he has been banned because of his actions supporting Biko. He successfully flees South Africa to publish a book on Steven Biko's struggles and the fight for freedom in South Africa. -
F.W. de Klerk overturns Apartheid Policies
Pieter Botha handed over the government to F.W. de Klerk in 1989 who began repealing most of the policies and legislations that formed the separation of races in the apartheid system of South Africa. -
Nelson Mandela Freed from Prison
De Klerk freed Nelson Mandela from jail as Mandela continues to negotiate for the end of apartheid with the president. Then he moved on to fighting for human rights worldwide. -
Nelson Mandela & F.W. de Klerk win Nobel Peace Prize
Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk both win the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to end apartheid and fight for freedom in South Africa. -
Nelson Mandela Becomes President
A new constitution was created and a new election resulted in a government made up of a majority of non-whites, officially ending apartheid in South Africa. Nelson Mandela is elected to be South Africa's first black president. -
Nelson Mandela Dies
Nelson Mandela died December 5, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa at age 95 after numerous hospitalizations and a recurring lung infection.
