Eyewitness History of the World 2.0

SOUTH AFRICA

The original inhabitants of South Africa were the San, nomadic 
hunter-gatherers, and the Khoikhoi, who were cattle farmers. 
These peoples are related and often referred to collectively 
as the Khoisan. By the AD 500s Bantu peoples had moved into the 
area from the north, bringing herds of goats and cattle, and 
ironworking skills.
DUTCH COLONISTS
In 1652 the Dutch established the Cape Colony as a staging post 
for eastbound ships of the Dutch East India Company. As the settlement 
grew the San fled into the interior. The Khoikhoi, deprived of 
their land, occupied menial positions in the settlement and integrated 
with the settlers.
BRITISH OCCUPATION
The British first arrived in southern Africa in 1795, and annexed 
the Cape in 1806. British governors introduced reforms, such 
as the abolition of slavery. This, along with Britains insistence 
on making English the official language, was deeply resented 
by the Dutch settlers, called Boers.
THE GREAT TREK
During the Great Trek of 1834 to 1838 about 10,000 Boers left 
the Cape Colony and traveled north to escape from British control. 
The Dutch met resistance from African peoples in the area, including 
the Zulus. In the early 1800s Shaka (17871828) expanded Zulu 
lands into a large empire, causing bloody conflicts throughout 
the east  known as the mfecane. Although a great warrior people, 
the Zulus could not resist the advanced weapons of the Dutch, 
who established several small republics, such as the South African 
Republic (Transvaal), Natal, and the Orange Free State.
BRITISH EXPANSION
The British continued to expand toward the east. They fought 
wars with the Xhosa people and went on to absorb the Boer state 
of Natal in 1843. Later on, the British came up against the resurgent 
Zulus, who were finally defeated in 1879. The discovery of diamonds 
and gold in southern Africa in the late 1800s led to an even 
greater influx of European settlers. Cecil Rhodes (18531902), 
prime minister of Cape Colony, set out to extend British territory 
into Transvaal, and north into what is now Zimbabwe and Zambia.
BOER WAR
The Boers expelled the British from Transvaal in 1881. British 
interest in the region did not fade however, and war broke out 
in 1899. The Boers adopted guerrilla tactics, but the British 
retaliated with a scorched earth policy that destroyed most 
Boer homesteads. The British herded Boer women and children into 
camps where 26,000 died from disease. The British were victorious 
in 1902.
INDEPENDENCE
The war led to the creation of the Union of South Africa, a dominion 
of the British Empire, in 1910. It also stimulated Afrikaner 
nationalism. Louis Botha (18621919) was elected prime minister. 
He had led Afrikaner forces during the Boer War, but supported 
Britain in World War I (19141918), and seized German colonies 
in southwestern Africa. His successor, Jan Smuts (18701950), 
also adopted pro-British policies and came into conflict with 
the Afrikaner-supported Nationalist party. In 1931 South Africa 
gained independence within the Commonwealth.
APARTHEID
After 1910 the civil rights of non-whites were steadily restricted. 
There were major strikes in the gold and coal mines over blacks 
taking jobs previously done by whites. Troops suppressed the 
unrest, and the government subsequently introduced laws to protect 
white workers. In 1948 the National party came to power and imposed 
the policy of apartheid. The new laws enforced residential segregation, 
prevented non-whites from voting, and banned mixed marriages. 
In 1961 South Africa became a republic and withdrew from the 
Commonwealth.
RESISTANCE
The African National Congress (ANC) was founded in 1912 to develop 
African unity. ANC leaders helped organize the Defiance Campaign 
of 1952, a nonviolent mass movement to draw attention to the 
grievances of black South Africans. The campaign collapsed and 
most of its leaders were exiled or imprisoned. A breakaway movement 
called the Pan Africanist Congress was formed in 1959. The PAC 
held a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville in 1960. White police 
fired on the unarmed crowds and killed 69 people, wounding hundreds 
more. The government introduced stronger measures to deal with 
opponents and outlawed both the ANC and PAC. These groups then 
began an armed struggle against the regime. The outbreak of violence 
resulted in the withdrawal of foreign capital and investment 
which damaged South Africas economy.
END OF APARTHEID
Continual racial violence and strikes brought South Africa to 
a state of emergency by 1986. Indians and people of mixed race 
(known as coloreds) were granted political representation in 
1984, but blacks were still denied basic democratic and human 
rights. Demonstrations were brutally suppressed by the South 
African police, and many people were killed. The white government 
encouraged conflict between black groups, such as the ANC and 
the Zulu Inkartha Freedom party. Many countries imposed economic 
and cultural sanctions against South Africa. From 1990, the South 
African government gradually brought the apartheid system to 
an end. The ANC leader Nelson Mandela (born 1918) was freed from 
prison after 27 years, and the ANC was unbanned. In 1993 Mandela 
and South Africas white president, F. W. de Klerk (born 1936) 
were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Free elections held 
in 1994 brought the ANC to power in a coalition government. Mandela 
became the countrys first black president. The new administration 
established a Commission of Truth and Reconciliation to examine 
the abuses committed under apartheid.

Copyright 1995, 1998 Dorling Kindersley
