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Period: Jan 1, 1400 to
South Africa
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Jan 1, 1488
The portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias
Four years before the discovery of America, the Portuguese explorer bartolomeu Dias, in command of two caravels, discovered what is now the cape of good hope and rounded the southernmost tip of the African continent, and event that may be said to mark the beginning of the republic of south Africa. -
The Dutch East India.
The government of the prince of orange in the Netherlands was replaced by a French-imposed republic that sided with France in the war against Britain. -
The Great Trek.
Boers leave cape colony in the great trek and found the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. The great trek started by Boer frontier farmers, the voortrekkers, to put distance between themselves and the British government. There's not specific date , just it took place during this year. -
Diamonds discovered.
The spectacular discoveries of diamonds in griqualand west between 1867 and 1871 led to another shift in British policy. In an effort to end disputes between the Boers and Griquia and Tswaba chiefs over the mineral-rich territory, Britain annexed Griqualand in 1871 and Transvaal in 1877. -
The new union of South Africa.
The union came into being on May 31, as a dominion of the British Empire, with the four providences of Cape, Natal, Orange Free State, and Transvaal. The first elections under the new constitution were held in 1911. -
Policy of apartheid (separateness)
Adopted when national party takes power. “Apartheid”, the Sauer report called for the rigid and legalized separation of the races. The program paid off when the national party catapulted into power after the elections with and eight-seat majority. -
ANC leader nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment.
Received a life sentence for committing sabotage against South Africa’s apartheid government, avoiding a possible death sentence. -
Mandela become president.
Nelson Mandela was elected president in 1994 in the country's first openly multiracial elections. Later the year South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth. -
Native National.
Was founded and later renamed the African national congress. Was another Boer general, J.B.M. Hertzog, was initially included in the cabinet but broke away from it in 1912 to form the national party. The principal British opposition parties were the unionist and labour parties. -
Mandela released.
President F. W. de Klerk reversed the ban on the ANC and other anti-apartheid organizations, and announced that Mandela would shortly be released from prison. Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison in Paarl on 11 February 1990. The event was broadcast live all over the world.
