Timeline of South Africa


This is a timeline of the history of the area in present-day South Africa.

Pre-colonial era The Dutch Cape Colony The British Cape Colony The Great Trek The Boer Republics Union of South Africa Apartheid The Rainbow Nation

Pre-colonial era

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~4 000 000 BP

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Skull of Mrs. Ples
Skull of the Taung Child

~2 500 000 BP

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~1 500 000 BP

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~200 000 BP

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  • The Border Cave is occupied, with the oldest sedimentary ash and grass bedding found here.

~170 000 BP

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117 000 BP

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73 000 BP

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61 000 BP

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  • The earliest bone and stone arrows are left at the Sibudu Cave, along with the earliest needle, and earliest use of heat-treated mixed compound gluing.

60 000 BP

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~15 000 BP

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Noordkapperpunt stone-walled fish traps

~3 000 BP

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~2 200 BP

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~200 CE

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~800

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  • Early Iron-age communities are established in the northern and eastern regions of Southern Africa.

~1000

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1400

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The São Cristóvão and the São Pantaleão of Bartolomeu Dias

1488

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1497

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  • The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama circumnavigates the Cape of Good Hope and discovers Natal on Christmas Eve.

1501

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1503

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1510

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1575

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1580

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1647

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  • The Dutch ship Nieuwe Haerlem runs aground at the Cape of Good Hope. Under the leadership of Leendert Janszen, the stranded Dutch seamen stay at the Cape for a year. After their return to the Netherlands, Leendert Janszen and Matthijs Proot are commissioned by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to write a report on their findings on the feasibility of the Cape as a refreshment station.

1649

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  • Leendert Janszen and Matthijs Proot submit their Remonstrantie, which describes their positive findings of the Cape of Good Hope. Jan van Riebeeck, who was on the ship that rescued the two, was asked to comment on the Remonstrantie and responded positively. The Gentlemen Seventeen, the board of the VOC, then decide that a refreshment station should be established at the Cape.

The Dutch Cape Colony

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Jan van Riebeeck's arrival at the Cape of Good Hope

1652

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1655

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1657

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1658

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1659

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1660

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1663

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1664

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1665

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Castle of Good Hope

1666

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1673

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1679

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1682

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  • The Tuynhuys is built which would later become the Cape Town office of the President of South Africa.

1685

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  • Cape Governor Simon van der Stel gives settlers land near the Boschendal farm.
  • Groot Constantia is built; becoming the oldest colonial manor house in South Africa.

1687

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  • Paarl is established as the third-oldest town in South Africa.

1688

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1701

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Expansion of the Cape Colony

1706

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1713

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1751

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1755

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  • A second smallpox epidemic strikes the Cape Colony.

1761

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  • Governor Rijk Tulbagh establishes South Africa's first library.

1767

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  • A third smallpox epidemic strikes the Cape Colony.

1773

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18th century drawing depicting Wolraad Woltemade's rescue of 14 sailors

1779

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1780

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1781

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  • A French fleet prevents the British conquest of the Cape Colony.
Depiction of a Griqua outspan expedition.

1784

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  • The Griqua cross the Gariep (Orange River) to the north under the leadership of Captain Cornelius Kok I.

1786

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1789

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  • The Second of the Xhosa Wars breaks out.
  • The Merino sheep is imported to the Cape Colony.

1792

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Auwal Mosque in Bo-Kaap (Malay Quarter) in Cape Town.

1794

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The British Cape Colony

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The Cape Colony in 1795

1795

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  • The United Kingdom captures the Cape Colony from the Netherlands in the Battle of Muizenberg. The Republic of Graaff-Reinet and Republic of Swellendam rebel but are annexed by the British Cape Colony.

1799

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1803

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  • Peace of Amiens. The United Kingdom transfers the Cape Colony back to the Netherlands.

1804

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The Battle of Blaauwberg

1806

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  • The United Kingdom conquers the Cape Colony from the Netherlands in the Battle of Blaauwberg, this time definitively.

1807

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  • The slave trade to South Africa is abolished, but slavery remains legal.

1808

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  • The first-ever recorded cricket match in South Africa takes place.

1809

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1810

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  • The Khoikhoi woman Saartjie Baartman is exhibited in London out of interest of her physique.

1811

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1812

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1813

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1815

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  • Rebellious Boers revolt against the British government at Slagtersnek, but are defeated.
The Zulu King Shaka

1816

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  • Five of the Slagtersnek insurgents are hanged in dramatic circumstances.
  • Shaka founds the Zulu Kingdom.

1818

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1819

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This map illustrates the rise of the Zulu Empire under Shaka (1816–1828) in present-day South Africa. The rise of the Zulu Empire   under Shaka forced other chiefdoms and clans to flee across a wide area of southern Africa. Clans fleeing the Zulu war zone   included the Soshangane, Zwangendaba, Ndebele, Hlubi, Ngwane, and the Mfengu.  .

1820

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1822

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1823

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1824

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1825

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1828

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  • The Zulu king Shaka is killed by his half-brother Dingane, who succeeds him as king.

1829

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1830

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  • Afrikaans is first written in Arabic.

1832

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  • The Matabele king Mzilikazi is driven west by Dingane.

1834

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  • Abolition of slavery in the Cape Colony.
  • The Sixth of the Xhosa Wars breaks out.

The Great Trek

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Map of The Great Trek

1835

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1836

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  • More Voortrekkers leave the Cape Colony. Mzilikazi sends his army against them, but is defeated at the Battle of Vegkop.
  • The Voortrekkers led by Hans van Rensburg are murdered in what is now Mozambique.

1837

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  • Mzilikazi is driven out of the Transvaal by the Voortrekkers led by Hendrik Potgieter. He founds the Kingdom of Mthwakazi in modern-day Zimbabwe.
Weenen massacre
The Battle of Blood River

1838

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1839

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1840

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  • The Voortrekkers support a successful coup by Mpande, the half-brother of the Zulu king Dingane. Dingane flees and is killed. Andries Pretorius crowns Mpande as Zulu king.

1841

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1842

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  • The United Kingdom conquers the Natalia Republic. Many Voortrekkers leave Natal.

1843

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  • The Port Elizabeth Cricket Club is founded, making it the oldest cricket club in South Africa.

1844

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1845

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1846

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1848

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1849

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1850

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  • The Eight of the Xhosa Wars breaks out.
  • Founding of Rustenburg.
  • The first railway line opens in Durban.

The Boer Republics

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1852

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1853

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1854

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1855

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  • Founding of Pretoria, named after Andries Pretorius.

1856

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  • An apocalyptic prophecy by the Xhosa girl Nongqawuse leads to the starvation of some 40 000 Xhosa.
  • The first constitution of the ZAR is approved by the Volksraad, but not accepted by all inhabitants.
  • The Republic of Lydenburg splits from the ZAR.

1857

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1858

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  • The final constitution of the ZAR is approved by the Volksraad.
  • The Republic of Zoutpansberg rejoins with the ZAR.
  • The First Basotho War breaks out between the Orange Free State and the Basotho.

1859

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  • Establishment of the Reformed Church in South Africa.

1860

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1861

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  • The Griqua leave the Orange Free State under the leadership of Captain Adam Kok III.

1862

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1864

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1865

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1866

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1867

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1868

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The Big Hole of Kimberley

1870

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  • Griqualand West is annexed by the United Kingdom. The founding of New Rush, later Kimberley. The diamond fields are claimed by the Griqua, the Orange Free State, the ZAR and the Cape Colony.
  • Start of the first major diamond rush, and formation of the short-lived Diggers' Republic in Barkly West.

1871

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  • The diamond fields are assigned to the Griqua by Governor Robert William Keate of the Colony of Natal. As a result, Marthinus Wessel Pretorius resigns as State President of the ZAR. Cecil Rhodes leaves for Kimberley.

1872

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1873

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1874

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1875

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1876

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1877

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1878

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  • Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands are annexed by the Cape Colony.
  • Paul Kruger's second peaceful attempt to restore ZAR independence fails.
  • The last of the quagga in the Orange Free State become extinct in the wild.

1879

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  • The Anglo-Zulu War breaks out between the United Kingdom and the Zulus. The war is won by the United Kingdom, although they suffer a crushing defeat at the Battle of Isandlwana. The United Kingdom conquers Zululand, and the area is absorbed into the Colony of Natal.
  • Griqualand East is fully annexed into the Cape Colony.
  • Founding of the Afrikanerbond.

1880

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The Battle of Majuba Hill.

1881

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  • The ZAR defeats the United Kingdom at the Battle of Majuba Hill. The Pretoria Convention ends the First Boer War in favour of the ZAR.
  • South Africa's first stock exchange, the Kimberley Royal Stock Exchange opens on 2 February.

1882

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  • Founding of the Republic of Stellaland and State of Goshen.
  • Kimberly becomes the first city in the Southern Hemisphere and the second in the world to integrate electric street lights into its infrastructure.
  • Dutch is recognised as an official language of the Cape Colony.
State President Paul Kruger.

1883

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  • Paul Kruger is elected State President of the ZAR.
  • Unification of the Republic of Stellaland and the neighbouring State of Goshen to form the United States of Stellaland.

1884

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1885

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  • Bechuanaland is annexed by the United Kingdom. Stellaland and Goshen are annexed and added to Bechuanaland.

1886

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1887

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1888

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  • Paul Kruger is elected state president of the ZAR for the second time.
  • Francis William Reitz is elected State President of the Orange Free State.
  • Nieuwe Republiek is annexed by the ZAR.
  • Nedbank is founded as the Nederlandsche Bank en Credietvereeniging voor Zuid-Afrika ("Dutch Bank and Credit Union for South Africa")

1889

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  • South Africa becomes the third test-playing nation when it plays against England at Port Elizabeth.

1890

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  • Cecil Rhodes is appointed Prime Minister of the Cape Colony.

1891

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  • Klein Vrystaat is annexed by the ZAR.

1892

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  • The Franchise and Ballot Act is passed by Cecil Rhodes to disenfranchise black Africans; it triples the wealth requirement to vote. A precursor act to Apartheid that followed.

1893

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  • Paul Kruger is elected for the third time as state president of the ZAR.
  • Gandhi arrives in Durban.
  • The Excelsior Diamond is discovered at the Jagersfontein Mine. It is the largest in the world until the 1905 discovery of the Cullinan Diamond.

1894

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1895

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Arrest of Leander Starr Jameson

1896

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1898

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1899

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Second Boer War concentration camp

1900

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  • The Orange Free State and the ZAR are conquered by the United Kingdom, but the Bittereinders refuse to give up the fight. The United Kingdom uses the scorched earth tactic of burning down farms and imprisoning Boer women and children in concentration camps. State President Paul Kruger leaves for Europe.

1901

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  • Emily Hobhouse sounds the alarm about the concentration camps of the Boer War.

1902

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1903

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1905

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  • The Cullinan Diamond is discovered, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found.

1904

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1906

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  • Start of the first 24-hour weather forecasts in South Africa by Harry Edwin Wood.

1907

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  • The Transvaal Colony and the Orange River Colony are given self-governance. Abraham Fischer becomes the first (and only) Prime Minister of the Orange River Colony.

1908

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Union of South Africa

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First Prime Minister of South Africa, Louis Botha.

1910

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1912

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1913

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  • Founding of the National Party.
  • The Natives Land Act is enacted, regulating the acquisition of land by black South Africans. It defined less than one-tenth of South Africa as Black "reserves" from which they were allowed purchase or lease of land. Land outside of this was prohibited.

1914

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1915

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1916

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1918

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Second Prime Minister Jan Smuts.
Photograph of Sol Plaatje from his 1915 book Native Life in South Africa

1919

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1921

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1922

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  • The Rand Rebellion by white miners in Witwatersrand is crushed by the South African Army, killing 153.
  • The University of the Witwatersrand is granted full university status.
  • Rhodesian colonists reject admitting Rhodesia as a fifth province of the Union.

1923

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1924

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1925

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1926

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The flag of South Africa from 1928 to 1994.

1928

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1930

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1934

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1938

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1939

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1942

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1945

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Apartheid

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Apartheid notice board.

1946

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  • The Native Laws Commission (Fagan Commission) recommends relaxation of restrictions on black South Africans living and working in urban areas.

1948

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1949

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1950

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  • The first of the Group Areas Act laws passes, codifying racial segregation.

1952

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1954

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1955

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1956

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1957

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1958

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Painting of the Sharpeville massacre by Godfrey Rubens.
Albert Luthuli

1960

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1961

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1962

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Human rights activist Nelson Mandela

1964

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1965

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1966

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1967

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  • The first ever successful heart transplant is performed by cardiac surgeon Christiaan Barnard.

1971

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1973

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  • The Carlton Centre opens as the tallest skyscraper in the Southern Hemisphere.

1975

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1976

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1977

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1979

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1982

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  • Founding of the Conservative Party.
  • South Africa builds its first operational nuclear weapon, code-named Hobo and later called Cabot, with a yield of 6 kilotons of TNT.

1983

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1984

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1985

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  • State President P. W. Botha gives his Rubicon speech in which he refuses to change his position regarding the Apartheid system, including the release of Mandela.
  • Reactor Unit 2 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station is synchronised to the grid.

1986

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1988

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  • The first South African IP address is granted to Rhodes University.

1989

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  • State President P. W. Botha suffers a stroke and resigns. F. W. de Klerk is elected State President of South Africa.
  • Founding of the Democratic Party.
  • South Africa ends its nuclear weapons programme and dismantles six fully completed nuclear weapons.

1990

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1991

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1992

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  • The white people of South Africa approve of De Klerk's reforms in a referendum.
  • 45 people are killed in the Boipatong Massacre, an attack committed by supporters of the Inkatha Freedom Party.
  • 28 protestors demanding Ciskei be reincorporated into South Africa (and 1 soldier) are killed in the Bisho massacre.

1993

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  • Nelson Mandela and F. W. de Klerk receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
  • Communist politician Chris Hani is murdered by a far-right extremist.
  • The Interim Constitution is put into law.
Mandela votes for the first time in his life, at the Ohlange School, Inanda, Durban.
Flag of South Africa

The Rainbow Nation

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1994

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1995

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1996

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1997

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1998

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Second President Thabo Mbeki.

1999

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2000

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2002

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  • Mark Shuttleworth becomes the first South African to travel to space as a space tourist; and the first African from an independent country to travel to space.

2003

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2004

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2005

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2007

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Third President Jacob Zuma.

2008

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2009

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2010

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2012

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2013

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2014

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2015

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  • Demonstrations take place against the preservation of the statue of Cecil Rhodes at the University of Cape Town.

2016

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2017

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President Cyril Ramaphosa

2018

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2019

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2020

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2021

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2022

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2023

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2024

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