South African History

#South African History South Africa has a rich and very interesting history. This incomplete summary is only to whet the appetite. A more complete concise history can be requested for Africa Deluxe Tours.

Some of the oldest hominid fossils were found in South Africa. When the Dutch arrived in present day Cape Town (1652) the local inhabitants were the Khoi Khoi and the Bushmen (San). The Northern and Eastern parts of the country were inhabited by different black tribes. Under Dutch rule the Dutch (Boer) settlement grew and expanded over ‘n period of 150 years.

In 1806 the British took over the Cape as a British colony. During the same time conflict among the Black tribes to the Northeast evolved (called the Difaqane/Mfeqane). This disrupted the previous patterns of settlement.

In 1836 many Boers (Voortrekkers) wished to escape English colonial rule and decided to leave the colony and trekked Northwards. Two Boer Republics were founded. The discovery of Gold led to the Anglo Boer (South African) War between the British and the two Boer Republics (1899-1903). In 1910 the Union of South Africa was formed. In 1948 the National Party took control and instituted a policy of apartheid - oppressing citizens of colour.

Different liberation movements struggled for freedom. This ultimately led to negotiations by all parties for the transition to a democratic South Africa. In 1994 South Africa held its first democratic elections in which all citizens participated.