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Migrants from the north settle, joining the indigenous San and Khoikhoi people. Khoikhoi are the traditionally nomadic pastoralist non-Bantu indigenous population of southwestern Africa. They are grouped with the hunter-gatherer San under the compound term Khoisan. Photo - sculpture of Doman, leader during the first Khoikhoi/Dutch War.
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Portuguese navigator Bartholomeu Dias is the first European to travel round the southern tip of Africa.
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Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama lands on Natal coast.
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Jan van Riebeeck, representing the Dutch East India Company, founds the Cape Colony at Table Bay.
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British forces seize Cape Colony from the Netherlands. Territory is returned to the Dutch in 1803; ceded to the British in 1806. It was at the time the only viable South African port for ships making the journey from Europe to the European colonies in the East Indies. (map attributed to George McCall Theal - https://archive.org/stream/historyofafricas03thea/historyofafricas03thea#page/n374/mode/1up, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35001165)
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Shaka Zulu founds and expands the Zulu empire, creates a formidable fighting force. Ruthless leadership also led to his assassination.
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Boers leave Cape Colony in the 'Great Trek' and found the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. Afrikaans Groot Trek, was the emigration of some 12,000 to 14,000 Boers from Cape Colony in South Africa between 1835 and the early 1840s, in rebellion against the policies of the British government and in search of fresh pasturelands.
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British grant limited self-government to the Transvaal.
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Boers proclaim the Transvaal a republic. The South African Republic (Transvaal) obtained its coat of arms by a Volksraad resolution of 18 February 1858. It was officially described as a wagon and an anchor on a silver field or shield, and on the arms an eagle; on the right-hand side a man in the costume of the land, armed with a gun; on the left-hand side a lion. The motto EENDRAGT MAAKT MAGT (Unity is Strength) was added soon afterwards underneath the arms.
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Arrival of thousands of labourers and traders from India, forebears of the majority of South Africa's current Indian population - 1860-1911
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Diamonds discovered at Kimberley. Picture: Forced labour camps set up by deBeers.
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Britain annexes the Transvaal.
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British defeat the Zulus in Natal.
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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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Gold is discovered in the Transvaal, triggering the gold rush.
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British troops gather on the Transvaal border and ignore an ultimatum to disperse. The second Anglo-Boer War begins.
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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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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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Native National Congress founded, later renamed the African National Congress (ANC). Leading the struggle: A South African Native National Congress 1914 delegation with founding members Thomas Mapikela, Walter Rubusana, John Dube, Saul Msane and Sol Plaatje.
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Land Act introduced to prevent blacks, except those living in Cape Province, from buying land outside reserves.
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National Party founded.
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Secret Broederbond (brotherhood) established to advance the Afrikaner cause.
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South West Africa (Namibia) comes under South African administration. The conquest and occupation of German South West Africa (Namibia) was by forces from the Union of South Africa acting on behalf of the British Imperial Government at the beginning of the First World War.
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The Union of South Africa parliament enacts the Status of the Union Act, which declares the country to be "a sovereign independent state". The move followed on from Britain's passing of the Statute of Westminster in 1931, which removed the last vestiges of British legal authority over South Africa.
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Policy of apartheid (separateness) adopted when National Party (NP) takes power.
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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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Seventy black demonstrators killed at Sharpeville. ANC banned.
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South Africa declared a republic, leaves the Commonwealth. Mandela heads ANC's new military wing, which launches sabotage campaign.
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International pressure against government begins, South Africa excluded from Olympic Games.
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ANC leader Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment.
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Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd assassinated.
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More than 3 million people forcibly resettled in black 'homelands' thoughout the '70s.
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More than 600 killed in clashes between black protesters and security forces during uprising which starts in Soweto. Black anger boils over. People rallied against the white government, which hit back violently
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Township revolt, state of emergency.
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FW de Klerk replaces PW Botha as president, meets Mandela. Public facilities desegregated. Many ANC activists freed.
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ANC unbanned, Mandela released after 27 years in prison. Namibia becomes independent.
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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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Agreement on interim constitution.
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ANC wins first non-racial elections. Mandela becomes 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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Truth and Reconciliation Commission chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu begins hearings on human rights crimes committed by former government and liberation movements during apartheid era.
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Parliament adopts new constitution. National Party withdraws from coalition, saying it is being ignored.
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Truth and Reconciliation Commission report brands apartheid a crime against humanity and finds the ANC accountable for human rights abuses.
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ANC wins general elections, Thabo Mbeki takes over as president.
