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Apr 16, 1480
Europeans in Africa
Portuguese navigator Bartholomeu Dias is the first European to travel round the southern tip of Africa. -
Dutch people in South Africa
Jan van Riebeeck founds the Cape Colony at Table Bay -
British people in South Africa
British forces seize Cape Colony from the Netherlands. -
Territory returns to the Dutch
Territory is returned to the Dutch in 1803 -
Netherland cedes the territory to England
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Zulu founds and expands the Zulu empire
Shaka Zulu founds and expands the Zulu empire, creates a formidable fighting force. -
Natal separates from the Cape Colony
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Diamonds discovered at Kimberley
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British defeat the Zulus in Natal
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Gold is discovered in the Transvaal, triggering the gold rush.
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Native National Congress founded
later renamed the African National Congress (ANC). -
National Party founded
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South West Africa (Namibia) comes under South African administration.
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Policy of apartheid (separateness)
adopted when National Party (NP) takes power. -
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. -
ANC banned
Seventy black demonstrators killed at Sharpeville -
International pressure against government begins
South Africa excluded from Olympic Games. -
ANC leader Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment
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More than 3 million people forcibly resettled in black 'homelands'
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FW de Klerk replaces PW Botha as president
He meets Mandela. Public facilities desegregated. Many ANC activists freed. -
ANC unbanned
Mandela released after 27 years in prison. Namibia becomes independent. -
ANC wins first non-racial election
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. -
ANC wins general elections, Thabo Mbeki takes over as president.