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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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Late 1850s - Boers proclaim the Transvaal a republic.
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1867 - Diamonds discovered at Kimberley.
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1877 - Britain annexes the Transvaal.
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1879 - British defeat the Zulus in Natal.
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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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Mid 1880s - Gold is discovered in the Transvaal, triggering the gold rush.
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1899 - British troops gather on the Transvaal border and ignore an ultimatum to disperse. The second Anglo-Boer War begins.
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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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1912 - Native National Congress founded, later renamed the African National Congress (ANC).
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1914 - National Party founded.
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1918 - Secret Broederbond (brotherhood) established to advance the Afrikaner cause.
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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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1960 - Seventy black demonstrators killed at Sharpeville. ANC banned.
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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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1966 September - Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd assassinated.
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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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1989 - FW de Klerk replaces PW Botha as president, meets Mandela. Public facilities desegregated. Many ANC activists freed.
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1990 - ANC unbanned, Mandela released after 27 years in prison. Namibia becomes independent.
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1991 - Start of multi-party talks. De Klerk repeals remaining apartheid laws, international sanctions lifted. Major fighting between ANC and Zulu Inkatha movement.
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1993 - Agreement on interim constitution
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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.
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1996 - Parliament adopts new constitution. National Party withdraws from coalition, saying it is being ignored.
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1999 - ANC wins general elections, Thabo Mbeki takes over as president.
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2001 April - 39 multi-national pharmaceutical companies halt a legal battle to stop South Africa importing generic Aids drugs. The decision is hailed as a victory for the world's poorest countries in their efforts to import cheaper drugs to combat the virus.
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2001 May - An official panel considers allegations of corruption surrounding a 1999 arms deal involving British, French, German, Italian, Swedish and South African firms. In November the panel clears the government of unlawful conduct.
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Constitutional court orders government to provide key anti-Aids drug at all public hospitals. Government had argued drug was too costly.
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2003 November - Government approves major programme to treat and tackle HIV/Aids. It envisages network of drug-distributon centres and preventative programmes. Cabinet had previously refused to provide anti-Aids medicine via public health system.
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2005 August - Around 100,000 gold miners strike over pay, bringing the industry to a standstill.
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South Africa becomes the 1st African country to allow same sex union
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Capetown Mayor
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June - Hundreds of thousands of public-sector workers take part in the biggest strike since the end of apartheid. The strike lasts for four weeks and causes widespread disruption to schools, hospitals and public transport.
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Zuma is elected chairman of the ANC, placing him in a strong position to become the next president. Prosecutors bring new corruption charges against him.
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A new political party is launched in Bloemfontein, in the first real challenge to the governing ANC. The Congress of the People - or Cope - is made up largely of defectors from the ANC and is headed by former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota.
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Public prosecutors drop corruption case against Jacob Zuma.
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Parliament elects Jacob Zuma as president.
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South Africa hosts the World Cup football tournament.
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The ANC suspends its controversial and influential youth leader, Julius Malema, for five years for bringing the party into disrepute.
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Member of white extremist group found guilty of plotting to kill Mandela and trying to overthrow government.
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Platinum mine owner Amplats fires 12,000 striking miners as wave of wildcat strikes shows little sign of abating.
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Mr Zuma re-elected as leader of the ANC.
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4th century - Migrants from the north settle, joining the indigenous San and Khoikhoi people.
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