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Diamond Mines
Diamond mining begins in South Africa. Africans are given the most dangerous jobs, are paid far less than white workers, and are housed in fenced, patrolled barracks. Oppressive conditions and constant surveillance keep Africans from organizing for better wages and working conditions. -
South African independence from Britain
A constitutional convention is held to establish South African independence from Britain. The all-white government decides that non-whites can vote but cannot hold office. A few people in the new government object, believing that South Africa would be more stable if Africans were treated better. -
The South Africa Party
The South Africa Party came to power in 1910 -
Forcing black Africans to live in reserves
The controversial 1913 Land Act, passed three years after South Africa gained its independence, marked the beginning of territorial segregation by forcing black Africans to live in reserves and making it illegal for them to work as sharecroppers. -
Blacks Fired.
Blacks are fired from jobs which are given to whites in the 1920's -
banned marriages
By 1950, the government had banned marriages between whites and people of other races -
The Bantu Homelands Act
The Bantu Homelands Act. Through this law, the white government declares that the lands reserved for black Africans are independent nations. In this way, the government strips millions of blacks of their South African citizenship and forces them to become residents of their new "homelands." Blacks are now considered foreigners in white-controlled South Africa, and need passports to enter. Blacks only enter to serve whites in menial jobs. -
Abolition of Passes and Coordination of Documents Act
Abolition of Passes and Coordination of Documents Act. This misleadingly-named law requires all Africans to carry identification booklets with their names, addresses, fingerprints, and other information. (See picture at right.) Africans are frequently stopped and harassed for their passes. Between 1948-1973, over ten million Africans were arrested because their passes were "not in order." Burning pass books becomes a common form of protest. -
Places for whites and non-whites
The Preservation of Separate Amenities Act establishes "separate but not necessarily equal" parks, beaches, post offices, and other public places for whites and non-whites. At right are signs for segregated toilets in English and Afrikaans. -
Declared a Republic
South Africa declared itself a republic in 1961. -
The all-black South African Students Organization
The all-black South African Students Organization, under the leadership of Steven Biko, helps unify students through the Black Consciousness movement in the 1970's. -
The Soweto riots
The Soweto riots of 1976 were the most brutal and violent riots that had taken place against the South African apartheid administration. -
Steve Biko
Steve biko died September 12 1977. He was South Africa’s most influential and radical student leader. -
Boycott South Africa
People and governments around the world launch an international campaign to boycott South Africa. Some countries ban the import of South African products, and citizens of many countries pressure major companies to pull out of South Africa in the 1980's -
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela became president on 10th May 1994.
