History of

The potted history of South-Africa

lundi 18 juin 2012 1488 Arrival of the Portuguese

The portuguese ships , led by Bartolomeu Diaz reached the Cape of Storms

It later became the Cape of Good Hope. He put into the port of Mossel bay(200kms at the east of the Cape) where he meets the Khoisans.

This story is well told by the museum of Mossel Bay.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1497 Always the Portuguese but they only are passing

Expedition of Vasco de Gama to India around the Cape of Good Hope,

Follows the coast of , and at Christmas put into Port Natal ( présent day )

lundi 18 juin 2012 1500-1650, Waiting for the

The Khoisans(Khoikhois + Bochimans) were the first known inhabitants of South-Africa(-40000). About in 500, Bantous reach the actual province of Kwazulunatal.

In the 10th century, the Xhosas, of bantu origin, settled in the .

The first English and Dutch expeditions on their way of India put into the port of Cape of Good Hope.

1602 Creation of the Dutch company for Eastern India(VOC), whose principal activity is the spice trade. Its fleet includes 150 trade ships and 40 war ships.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1652 Arrival of the Dutch

April the sixth, Jan van Riebeeck lands at Capetown, at the foot of the Table Mountain. He comes to cultivate land and supply with fresh products (water,fruits, vegetables , meat…) the ships of the April the sixth, Jan van Riebeeck lands at Capetown, at the foot Company.The vitamins contained in these products are to fight the « scurvy » which decimates the crews of the ships. of the Table Mountain. He comes to cultivate land and supply with fresh products (water,fruits, vegetables , meat…) the ships of the Company.The vitamins contained in these products are to fight the « scurvy » which decimates the crews of the ships.

This event will have an considérable historic conséquence, the boers installed with Calvin’s ideas(1509-1564), supported by Guillaume d’ Orange. God has expressly chosen certain people to govern over all his creation.

First contingents of slaves arrive in Capetown, coming from Indonesia, Madagascar and India.

1679 Foundation of the town of Stellenbosch, near Capetown.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1688 Arrival of french Huguenots

Arrival of 175 french huguenots after the revocation of the Nantes’edict by Louis XIV , king of France. They became boer people and they plant the first vineyards in South-Africa. With the 800 citizens of the trading post, they,found Franschhoek ( the french corner).

The population is composed of 25,000 colonists( Dutch, Germans and French Huguenots) and 25,000 slaves.

lundi 18 juin 2012 About 1800 the British seizure

1779 Skirmishes between colonists and Xhosas. Nine « kaffir »wars will follow.

In 1793, France declares the war on Holland and Great-Britain. They invade Holland.

The VOC declares bankruptcy in 1795.The English want to prevent France from taking over the Cape because they desire an interim port towards India and Australia. Capetown becomes Dutch again in 1803.

1806 England annexes the . English become the compulsory language, the boers speak Afrikaans.In 1814,official transfer of the Cape to the British by the Dutch.

lundi 18 juin 2012 Beginning of the XIXth century The british colonisation

Shaka founds the .Murder of the Zulu king by his brother in 1828.

1820 Arrival of 5,000 English colonists. These craftsmen and former soldiers settle in Zuurveld, a place located to the North of Capetown.

In 1833, abolition of slavery in the all British territories.

1823 British merchants found an establishment named Port-Natal ( becomes Durban in 1835), in memory of Benjamin d’Urban, governor of Cape Town.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1835 The Grand Trek

Since 1822, the Government of the Cape adopts a series of measures, unfavourable to the Boers.From 1834 to 1839, more than 16,000 boers undertake a big migration toward empty regions in the north and east.

That migration forged the mythology of the : they are the elected nation, the white tribe searching for their promised land.

They don’t know the genocides carried out by the Zulus, who return then to Natal province

On 15 October 1836, 10,000 Ndebele warriors attack the boer ’s column.This day, the huguenot was elected as president of the Voortrekker’s Republic, in Potschefstroom, but the living conditions are very hard and they decide to go down to Natal.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1838 The Republic of Natalia In October 1837, the boers reach Durban.

In 1838,Piet Retief negotiates with the Zulu king Dingane, but the delegation is slaughtered. The general , with 500 boers crush the 10,000 Zulus.The battle leaves 3,000 dead at the Buffalo River( there after named Blood River). The Boers recognize , Dingane’s half-brother as Zulu king. He gives half of the Natal to them. The Boers proclaim the Natalia Republic with as capital. The English send an expeditionary force to Natal in 1842 and then annex the région on 12 May 1843.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1850 The republics of and Orange

The boers leave Natalia,cross the mountain and found the free Orange Republic ,and later the Transvaal Republic.

London recognizes the South African Transvaal Republic in 1852 And then the in 1854.

These nations recognize no equality between the whites and the natives.

In 1860, installation in Natal of the first Indian workers in the sugar-cane industry.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1867 Discovery of diamonds in Kimberley

Discovery of diamonds in lands belonging to the family De Beers.

The place was named Kimberley, in the centre of South-Africa, to the North-East of Capetown.

In 1870,the English man Cecil John Rhodes lands in Durban to join his brother Herbert.

In 1871, he becomes partner of the De Beers. His company become a state within the state, it will give birth to Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).

lundi 18 juin 2012 1879 Death of the son of Napoleon III

The imperial Prince Louis Napoléon, son of Napoléon III, the former French Emperor till 1870. He enlists in the british army but is killed at Uqweqwe to the east of Dundee ( 200kms north of Durban)in a memorable defeat against the Zulus.

He is buried in Farnborough along with his father, and later his mother.The Empress Eugénie came in pilgrimage to the site from Durban in 1880.

The British won the war and the great Zulu kingdom is divided into 13 little kingdoms

lundi 18 juin 2012 1881 Discovery of gold in Johannesburg

Discovery of gold in Witwatersrand by George Harrison.

Creation of Johannesburg ( 80,000 citizens 10 years later). The great beneficiaries of that discovery will be the Boers of the Transvaal.

First English-Boer war , won by the Afrikaners, with the material support of Germany and France.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1882-1902 Kruger and Rhodes at the controls

The boer leader become the first président of the Transvaal Republic in 1882. He will remain president till his death in 1904.

Cecil Rhodes becomes prime minister of the Cape Colony in 1890.

Cecil Rhodes resigns his office of prime minister in 1896.Death of Cecil Rhodes near the Cape in 1902. He is buried in Southern Rhodesia.

Death of Paul Kruger in Switzerland, in Clarens in 1904.. He was buried in Pretoria,in the Heroes Acre cemetery.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1899-1902 The Boers war

Second boer War ( Boer-English). The Boers won the first battles but they can’t match the power of the British Empire, at its peak. In June 1900, the English general Kitchener occupies Bloemfontein, capital of the Orange Free state, and also Pretoria, capital of the Transvaal.

28,000 boers and 14,000 black refugees will die in the concentration camps, created by the British.

Paul Kruger goes to Europe to find support but in vain. The Vereeniging treaty puts an end to the Boer war.

The Imperialist Party wins the war but loses power in Great-Britain. The liberals win the elections in 1906 and decide to create the South-African Union.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1910 Foundation of South-Africa

Foundation of the Dominion of South-Africa joining the Cape colony, Natal,the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. The South African Act establishes a parliamentary democracy. Till 1948, all the prime ministers will be Boer generals : Louis Botha(1910-1919), Albert Hertzog (1924-1939) and Jan Smuts(1919-1924,1939-1948)

The country enters into the Commonwealth.

Till the arrival of Nelson Mandela to power, the political power will be Afrikaner,but the british capitalists will keep the economic power.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1910-1920

In Bloemfountein, Pixley Seme creates a movment for the defence of the black people : the African National Congress ( ANC ) with the help of Gandhi ( present in South-africa from 1893 to 1914).

South-Africa takes part in the first world war as a member of the British Empire.

1918 In Johannesburg foundation by Henning Klopper of the secret society with the aim of the political, social,and economic promotion of the Afrikaners.

Birth of Nelson Mandela ( from the Xhosa ethnic group) on 18 July 1918 in Mvezo. When he was 2 years old he was going to live in Qunu, near Umtata(200kms SW from Durban)

lundi 18 juin 2012 1934 Creation of

Daniel François Malan ( descendant of French Huguenot) creates the Purified National Party. The german Count Gustav von Durcheim invites thirty south-african students to pursue their studies in Germany ( of whom one was , later one of the leaders of ) .

1938 In Capetown, the leaders of the Purified National Party : Daniel François Malan, Hendrik Verwoerd, Piet Meyer and Henning Klopper decide to organize the great journey, in memory of the « Grand Trek ».That great Travel begins in Capetown on 8 August 1938.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1948-1958:Daniel François Malan

End of the Great Journey, the Purified Party win the élections with 89 of 154 seats. Daniel François Malan become prime minister. Implementation of apartheid.

In 1948, in Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu reactivate the Youth League, part of the ANC, created in 1943.

Reinforcement of apartheid with the création of zones for every race

The ANC opposes the expulsions by launching a defiant campaign against unjust laws,4 million blacks and mixed race are evicted.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1958-1966 Hendrik Verwoerd

1958 Hendrik Verwoerd becomes prime minister.

In 1960, slaughter of Sharpeville after a demonstration against the ( 69 dead ).

Indictment of the ANC.

Condemnation of apartheid politics by the United Nations Organisation

lundi 18 juin 2012 1961 beginning of the international isolation

Proclamation of the Republic of South- Africa with a withdrawal from the Commonwealth.

Nelson Mandela decides to resort to armed struggle.

Albert Luthuli, chief of the ANC receives the Nobel peace prize.

In 1962, the UNO votes sanctions against South-africa

lundi 18 juin 2012 1964 Nelson Mandela is sentenced to hard labour for life

July the 7th. Arrest of Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela is sentenced to hard labour for life in Robben Island, near CapeTown. He avoids the death sentence due to international pressure.

September the 6th 1966. Murder of Hendrik Verwoerd

lundi 18 juin 2012 1966-1978 : , International isolation.

John Vorster succeeds Hendrik Verwoerd as prime minister.

On 3 December 1966, Chris Barnard is successful with the first heart transplantation.

On 16 July 1976, demonstrations against the requirement to speak Afrikaans in the black schools(600dead). Murder of the young Hector Peterson in Soweto.

The picture of Hector in the arms of his brother goes around the world.

lundi 18 juin 2012 The International embargo

In 1977, South africa is excluded from International sport competitions ( for 10 years ),after the refusal to participate in a cricket match against a British team, with a mixed race member.

UNO embargo on weapons sales.

Death of Steve ( 1946-1977 ), founder of the Black Consciousness. His funeral gathers 20,000 people in King Williams Town on 25 September 1977.

A film was made about his life : Cry Freedom, as well as the song by Peter Gabriel.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1979-1989 PW Botha

PW Botha becomes prime minister, after a financial scandal compelling John Vorster to the resign.

In April 1982, Nelson Mandela is transferred from Robben Island to Pollsmoor in the suburbs of Capetown. That change will permit easier contacts with the leaders of South-Africa.

Economic and political sanctions further isolate the country.

On 10 October 1984, Desmond Tutu receives the Nobel Peace Prize

On 10 February 1985, Zindzi, the daughter of Nelson Mandela makes a speech in Soweto and answers for her father to PW Botha that he can’t negotiate without unconditionnal liberation

lundi 18 juin 2012 1989 Frédérick de Klerk

On 5 February 1989, meeting of Nelson Mandela with PW Botha.

In September, PW Botha in minority in his own government must resign.

Frederik de Klerk becomes president of the republic.

In December, first meeting between Nelson Mandela and Frederik de Klerk,

lundi 18 juin 2012 1990 Frederick de Klerk and Nelson Mandela négociate

On 11 February 1990, Nelson Mandela is released without condition and Frederik de Klerk legalizes the ANC. Nelson Mandela, become président of the ANC, renounces the armed struggle and negociate with De Klerk.On 30 June 1991, apartheid is abolished.

1992 Referendum put to the whites, with 80% as participation rate, 68,7% of the voters say yes to the pursuit of negotiations with the ANC.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Nelson Mandela and Frederik de Klerk together.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1994 first multiracial elections

On 27 April, in spite of the violence between partisans of Inkatha ( nationalist Zulu organisation) and the ANC , the first democratic and multiracial elections take place.

Nelson Mandela votes in Inanda to the north of Durban, to pay hommage to the reverend John Dube.Results of the elections : ANC 63% , De Klerk 20%, Zulu Party 10%.The Conservative Party ( Afrikaner) and the extreme right parties abstain from voting.The Freedom Front( Afrikaner) of Constand Viljoen participates in the elections.

Nelson Mandela becomes president of the Republic. Frederik de Klerk and Thabo Mbeki are nominated as vice-presidents. South-Africa retakes a seat in the Commonwealth and in the UNO.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1995 The reconciliation?

Victory of South-Africa over the All-Blacks in the final of the world rugby championship

The film « Invictus » tells that event.

Creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, under the aegis of Desmond Tutu.

That Commission concluded its work in 1998.

lundi 18 juin 2012 1999-2009 after Mandela

Thabo Mbeki of the Xhosa ethnic group becomes président of the Republic.He wins the elections in 2004 with 70% of the votes.

He remains in that position till his dismissal in 2008 September. He then creates a new party :the Congress of the People (COPE)

2009 Election of Jacob Zuma, of the Zulu ethnic group, but with a decline of the votes for the ANC and a progression for the COPE( 7,5% of the votes) and for the first multiracial party, the Democratic Alliance (DA)(17% of the votes). The Freedom Front (Afrikaner right) also get seats in the parliament.

lundi 18 juin 2012 Some facts and figures

Population in 2010 : about 48,000,000(80% of blacks, 9% of whites,9% of mixed-race, 3% of Indian origin).

Johannesburg : 3,200,000 citizens, Capetown :3,000,000 citizens

Durban : 3,000,000 citizens , Pretoria ; 1,000,000 citizens.

There are effectively 2 capitals Cape Town : the political capital and Pretoria : the administrative capital ;

11 official languages : the most spoken : English, 2 widely spoken : Afrikaans and Zulu, and then Xhosa…

lundi 18 juin 2012 Bibliography

Histoire de l’Afrique du Sud de François-Xavier Fauvelle-Aymar by Editions du Seuil

Un Arc-en-Ciel dans la nuit de Dominique Lapierre by Editions Robert Laffont

Afrique du Sud Bibliothèque du voyageur by Guides Gallimard

Afrique du Sud Le guide du Routard

Afrique du Sud on Wikipedia

Thanks a lot to Kevin Wood for the English version and to Frédéric Level for his computing contribution.

To Lea, to know in a few years the history of half of her roots

lundi 18 juin 2012