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4th century - Migrants from the north settle, joining the indigenous San and Khoikhoi people.
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1497 - Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama lands on Natal coast.
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1652 - Jan van Riebeeck, representing the Dutch East India Company, founds the Cape Colony at Table Bay.
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1795 - British forces seize Cape Colony from the Netherlands. Territory is returned to the Dutch in 1803; ceded to the British in 1806.
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1816-1826 - Shaka Zulu founds and expands the Zulu empire, creates a formidable fighting force.
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1852 - British grant limited self-government to the Transvaal.
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1856 - Natal separates from the Cape Colony.
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1880-81 - Boers rebel against the British, sparking the first Anglo-Boer War. Conflict ends with a negotiated peace. Transvaal is restored as a republic.
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Abouth 1885- Gold is discovered in the Transvaal, triggering the gold rush.
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1902 - Treaty of Vereeniging ends the second Anglo-Boer War. The Transvaal and Orange Free State are made self-governing colonies of the British Empire.
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1910 - 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.
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1913 - Land Act introduced to prevent blacks, except those living in Cape Province, from buying land outside reserves.
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1948 - Policy of apartheid (separateness) adopted when National Party (NP) takes power.
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1950 - 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.
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1961 - South Africa declared a republic, leaves the Commonwealth. Mandela heads ANC's new military wing, which launches sabotage campaign.
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1964 - ANC leader Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment.
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1970s - More than 3 million people forcibly resettled in black 'homelands'.
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1976 - More than 600 killed in clashes between black protesters and security forces during uprising which starts in Soweto.
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1990 - ANC unbanned, Mandela released after 27 years in prison. Namibia becomes independent.
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1994 April - ANC wins first non-racial elections. Mandela become president, Government of National Unity formed, Commonwealth membership restored, remaining sanctions lifted. South Africa takes seat in UN General Assembly after 20-year absence.