South Africa By marc6349 1652 Dutch East India Company set up post at the Cape Period: Dec 20, 1880 to Mar 23, 1881 First Boer War 1886 Gold is found in Transvaal Period: Oct 11, 1899 to May 31, 1902 The Second Boer War Period: 1948 to 1994 Apartheid 1950 Sharpville massacre 1950 The African National Congress is founded 1990 Nelson Mandela is released from prison on Robben Island 1994 Nelson Mandela becomes leader of ANC