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South Africa Timeline
Travel through our timeline of major events in South Africa's history.
1400s
Zulu and Xhosa tribes establish large kingdoms in the South Africa region.1652
The Dutch establish the port of Cape Town. They are the first Europeans to settle in South Africa.1852
The British take control of Cape Town.1886
Gold is discovered in Johannesburg, making the city rich.
BOB THOMAS/POPPERFOTO/GETTY IMAGES
1899-1902
Dutch settlers fight the British in the Boer War. Britain eventually gains control of South Africa.1910
South Africa becomes an independent nation.1918
Rolihlahla Dalibhunga Mandela is born on July 18 in a small village in South Africa. A teacher later gives him the English name Nelson.1948
Apartheid is introduced. Laws legally and physically separate different racial groups.1952
The African National Congress, a black civil rights group, begins a Campaign for Defiance of Unjust Laws as a protest against apartheid. Nelson Mandela is one of its leaders.1960
1960: In the town of Sharpeville, 67 Africans are killed while protesting Apartheid.
BRIAN BAHR—GETTY IMAGES
1962
Mandela is arrested for plotting against the government. Though he stays active politically, he will spend 27 years in prison.1990
President F.W. de Klerk announces the end of apartheid. Mandela is freed from prison after serving 27 years.1993
De Klerk and Mandela are jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
JOHN PARKIN—AP