- 1652-57
Dutch sailors landed at Cape Town. Some of them
became settlers: the first "Boers". They considered themselves African and called
theme selves "Afrikaans". Today five million people speak Afrikaans.
- 1795-1834
A merchant began to import slaves from west Africa
and from the Dutch colonies in the Cape area, ruled by the British. In 1834, the
British abolished slavery. Many Boers disagreed with this measure and left the colony
for other territories that were occupied by black native tribes. Britain invaded
and annexed Zulu territories.
- 1850-1910 Great Britain recognized the two Boer Republics
of Transvaal and the Orange Free State. In 1898, the Anglo-Boer war broke out: the
United Kingdom won and annexed the two Boer Republics. More an more tribal lands
became "native reserves". The discovery of diamonds and gold changed the situation
and many Africans, who were farmers, were compelled to migrate and work in the mines.
- 1910 The Union of South Africa was established and took
its place in the British Commonwealth of nations. The resistance of native groups
was destroyed.
- 1912
The ANC (African National Congress) was founded,
in order to obtain equal rights for all citizen and to protest against apartheid
with legal means.
- 1952 The ANC promoted a campaign against apartheid. Many
leaders were arrested.
- 1960-64 30,000 Africans marched on the House of Parliament
in Cape Town. This started a long period of non-violent campaigns and acts of sabotage
and boycott. The ANC and many other organizations were banned. for many years the
anti-apartheid activist were persecuted and many protest imprisoned on Robben Island.
- 1976
20.000 black schoolchildren began a protest march
from Soweto against the imposition of Afrikaans in their schools. Thousands of black
students boycotted the schools with the solidarity of their parents.
- 1977
Winnie Mandela and her daughters were sentenced
to deportation to an Afrikaner village for seven years. Torture and murder were
used by police against the people, who were fighting for democracy. For many years,
protest were organized in many parts of the world to isolate the South African Government
through economic sanctions, arms embargoes and cultural and sporting boycott.
- 1989 F.W. de Clerk became the new President. He changed
his political strategy.
- 1990
He announced the unbanning of the ANC and 35 others
organizations. This was the end of the state of emergency.
- 1994
On April 26°, 27°, 28°, for the first time all South
Africans were citizens. Millions of Blacks, "went to the polls" to elect their first
democratic government. The African National Congress won the election with 62,5
per cent. The new government established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,
with the purpose of investigating abuses committed during the apartheid regime (1948-1990).
- 1996
The Republic of South Africa adopted the new Constitution.
The nation is divided into none provinces.
- 1998
The "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" Report
was published. This is one of the most significant documents of our time.
- 1999
The second democracy elections saw the increase
of
the ANC's majority. Thabo Mbeki was elected president of South Africa.
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