History of South Africa in Timeline

South Africa (officially the Republic of South Africa) is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe to the north; Mozambique and Eswatini to the east and northeast; and it encloses Lesotho. It has a coastline of 2,798 kilometers. Covering an area of 1,221,037 square kilometers, South Africa has a population of over 62 million. Pretoria is the administrative capital, Cape Town is the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital. Johannesburg is the largest city, followed by Cape Town and Durban.

1902: End of Second Boer War

In 1902, The Second Boer War ended, with the British ultimately victorious but suffering heavy casualties.

1909: South Africa Act

In 1909, The South Africa Act granted nominal independence while creating the Union of South Africa.

1910: South Africa's Parliament

After unification in 1910, South Africa had its own parliament which passed laws specific for South Africa, building on those previously passed for the individual member colonies.

1910: Creation of the Union of South Africa

In 1910, the Union of South Africa was created out of the former Cape, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange River colonies.

1911: Census Shows White Population

The first census in 1911 showed that whites made up 22% of the population of South Africa.

1912: Establishment of the South African Army

The South African Army was established in 1912.

1913: Natives' Land Act

In 1913, the Natives' Land Act severely restricted the ownership of land by blacks.

1920: Establishment of the South African Air Force

The South African Air Force (SAAF) was established in 1920.

1924: Discovery of Taung Child

In 1924, Raymond Dart identified the first hominin fossil discovered in Africa, the Taung Child.

1930: Publication of Mhudi

In 1930, Solomon Thekiso Plaatje's Mhudi, was written.

1931: Full Sovereignty

In 1931, the union became fully sovereign from the United Kingdom with the passage of the Statute of Westminster.

1934: Formation of United Party

In 1934, the South African Party and National Party merged to form the United Party.

1939: Party Split over WWII

In 1939, the United Party split over the entry of the union into World War II.

1945: Over 4,900 Fungi Species Recorded

Up to 1945, more than 4,900 species of fungi (including lichen-forming species) had been recorded in South Africa.

1948: Cry, the Beloved Country Published

In 1948, Alan Paton published the novel Cry, the Beloved Country.

1948: Unofficial Hottest Temperature Recorded

In 1948, an unofficial temperature of 51.7 °C was recorded in the Northern Cape Kalahari near Upington, but this was not recorded with standard equipment.

1948: Apartheid Imposed

In 1948, the National Party imposed apartheid, institutionalising racial segregation.

1948: National Party Elected

In 1948, the National Party was elected to power, strengthening racial segregation.

1950: Estimated Population

According to the United Nations' World Population Prospects, South Africa's total population was 13.6 million in 1950.

1955: Freedom Charter

In 1955, the Freedom Charter was adopted by the Congress Alliance, demanding a non-racial society.

May 1961: South Africa Becomes a Republic

On 31 May 1961, South Africa became a republic, and Elizabeth II lost the title Queen of South Africa.

1961: South Africa becomes a republic

In 1961, South Africa became a republic.

1961: Official name

Since 1961, the long formal name in English has been the "Republic of South Africa" and Republiek van Suid-Afrika in Afrikaans.

December 1967: First Human-to-Human Heart Transplant

In December 1967, the first human-to-human heart transplant was performed by Christiaan Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital.

1970: Peak Gold Production

In 1970, South Africa produced 1,000 metric tons of gold, which was almost 80% of the world's mine supply at the time.

1974: Mahlabatini Declaration of Faith

In 1974, the Mahlabatini Declaration of Faith, enshrining principles of peaceful transition and equality, was signed by Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Harry Schwarz.

1979: Alleged Nuclear Test

In 1979, South Africa is alleged to have conducted a nuclear test over the Atlantic, although this is officially denied.

1979: Jody Scheckter World Champion

South Africa produced Formula One motor racing's 1979 world champion Jody Scheckter.

1980: White Population Percentage

By 1980, the white population in South Africa had declined to 16%.

1980: Completed Nuclear Device

In 1980 a nuclear device was completed.

1983: Constitution Act

In 1983, P. W. Botha's Constitution Act eliminated the office of prime minister and instated a "strong presidency".

1990: Water Access Improvement

From 1990, access to water increased from 66%.

1990: Completed Nuclear Device

In 1990 a nuclear device was completed.

1990: Lifting of Ban on ANC

In 1990, the National Party government lifted the ban on the ANC and other political organizations, and Nelson Mandela was released from prison.

1991: Estimates of English Speakers

Estimates based on the 1991 census suggest just under half of South Africans could speak English.

1991: Nadine Gordimer Wins Nobel Prize

In 1991, Nadine Gordimer became the first South African to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

1991: Number of Black Muslims

In 1991, the number of black Muslims in South Africa was 12,000.

1991: Signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

South Africa became the first country with nuclear capability to voluntarily renounce and dismantle its program and signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1991.

1992: Life expectancy high point

In 1992, South African life expectancy reach to 62 years.

1992: Referendum Approval

In 1992, with approval from the white electorate in a referendum, the government continued negotiations to end apartheid.

January 1993: Official Hottest Temperature Recorded

In January 1993, the official highest temperature of 48.8 °C was recorded at Vioolsdrif.

1993: Discussions with Mandela

In 1993, F.W. de Klerk opened bilateral discussions with Nelson Mandela for a transition of policies and government.

June 1994: Rio Convention on Biological Diversity Signed

On June 4, 1994, South Africa signed the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity.

1994: Government policy post-Apartheid

After 1994, government policy brought down inflation, stabilised public finances, and some foreign capital was attracted; however, growth was still below expectations.

1994: Xenophobic attacks

Between 1994 and 2018, there were more than 500 xenophobic attacks against foreigners in South Africa.

1994: First Universal Elections

In 1994, South Africa held its first universal elections, which the ANC won, and the country rejoined the Commonwealth.

1994: South Africa rejoins Commonwealth

In 1994, South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations.

1994: Creation of SANDF

In 1994, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was created.

1994: Constitutional Court Based in Johannesburg

In 1994, the highest court, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, was based in Johannesburg.

1994: Post-Apartheid Economic Challenges

In post-apartheid South Africa, unemployment skyrocketed after 1994 and income inequality increased.

1994: Murders in South Africa

More than 526,000 South Africans were murdered from 1994 to 2019.

November 1995: Party to the Convention

In November 1995, South Africa became a party to the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity.

1995: Human Development Index fall

From 1995 to 2005 the United Nations Human Development Index fell

1995: First Rugby World Cup Win

South Africa first won the Rugby World Cup in 1995, which it hosted.

1996: Gini Coefficient

In 1996, the Gini coefficient was 0.61.

1996: Penny Heyns Olympic Gold

Penny Heyns won Olympic Gold in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

1996: South Africa hosts African Cup of Nations

South Africa hosted the 1996 African Cup of Nations, with the national team Bafana Bafana winning the tournament.

1998: Blind Cricket World Cup

South Africa's national blind cricket team won the inaugural edition of the Blind Cricket World Cup in 1998.

1998: ICC KnockOut Trophy

South Africa's national cricket team, the Proteas, won the inaugural edition of the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy.

1999: Financial Aid Scheme Promulgated

In 1999, a financial aid scheme was promulgated in South Africa, which aided 1.4 million students in higher education by 2015.

2001: Religious Affiliations

According to the 2001 census, Christians accounted for 79.8% of the population in South Africa, while Muslims accounted for 1.5%, Hindus 1.2%, traditional African religions 0.3% and Judaism 0.2%.

2001: Eskom Named Best Electricity Utility

In 2001, Eskom was named the best electricity utility in the entire world.

2002: Sydney Brenner Nobel Prize

Sydney Brenner won the Nobel Prize in 2002 for his work in molecular biology.

2003: Unemployment of Black People

By 2003, the overall unemployment rate of black people worsened by official metrics but declined significantly using expanded definitions.

2003: J.M. Coetzee Wins Nobel Prize

J.M. Coetzee won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003.

2003: Cricket World Cup Hosted

South Africa hosted the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

2004: Number of Black Muslims

By 2004, the number of black Muslims in South Africa had grown sixfold to 74,700.

2004: Economic Growth

From 2004 onward, economic growth picked up significantly; both employment and capital formation increased.

2004: Tertiary Education System Reform

In 2004, South Africa started reforming its tertiary education system, merging and incorporating small universities into larger institutions, and renaming all tertiary education institutions "university".

2004: Swimming Team Wins Gold at Olympics

In 2004, the swimming team won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Athens.

2004: Wave of Popular Protests

Since 2004, South Africa has experienced many thousands of popular protests, some violent, making it, according to one academic, the "most protest-rich country in the world".

2005: Lowest life expectancy

In 2005, South African life expectancy fell to a low of 53, in large part attributable to the South African HIV/AIDS pandemic.

2005: U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha wins Golden Bear

In 2005, the film U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.

June 2006: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Received

On June 7, 2006, South Africa's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan was received by the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity.

2006: Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

In 2006, South Africa became one of the first jurisdictions in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

2006: Indictment of Zuma

In 2006, an indictment was issued on Jacob Zuma with 12 charges of fraud, two of corruption, and one each of racketeering and money laundering.

2006: Tsotsi wins Academy Award

In 2006, the film Tsotsi won the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film at the 78th Academy Awards.

2006: Estimated Number of Fungi

In 2006, the number of fungi in South Africa was estimated at 200,000 species, dwarfing the number of plants.

2006: Opposition to Immigration

In a 2006 survey, the South African Migration Project concluded that South Africans are more opposed to immigration than any other national group.

2006: Chaired the Group of 77

South Africa is a member of the Group of 77 and chaired the organisation in 2006.

2006: End of Gold Dominance

Until 2006, South Africa had been the world's largest gold producer for almost a century.

2007: Loadshedding Implementation

In 2007, Eskom implemented loadshedding for the first time due to severe mismanagement and corruption.

2007: Government Efforts to Fight AIDS

In 2007, in response to international pressure, the South African government made efforts to fight AIDS.

2007: Adult Literacy Rate

In 2007, the adult literacy rate in South Africa was 89%.

2007: Refugee and Asylum Seeker Population

In 2007, the refugee and asylum seeker population in South Africa numbered approximately 144,700.

2007: Energy Crisis

Since 2007, South Africa has been facing an energy crisis, characterized by routine rolling electricity blackouts due to loadshedding.

2007: World Twenty20 Championship Hosted

South Africa hosted the 2007 World Twenty20 Championship.

2007: Second Rugby World Cup Win

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2007.

May 2008: Anti-Immigrant Riots

A series of anti-immigrant riots occurred in South Africa beginning in May 2008.

May 2008: Riots and Displacement

In May 2008, riots left over 60 people dead, and over 100,000 people were driven from their homes.

2008: HIV/AIDS Infection Divided Along Racial Lines

A 2008 study revealed that HIV/AIDS infection in South Africa is distinctly divided along racial lines: 13.6% of blacks are HIV-positive, whereas only 0.3% of whites have the virus.

2008: World Refugee Survey

According to the World Refugee Survey 2008, published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, the refugee and asylum seeker population in South Africa numbered approximately 144,700 in 2007.

2008: Gold Production Declines

In 2008, South Africa's gold production was 205 metric tons.

2008: Xenophobic Riots in Johannesburg

The 2019 Johannesburg riots were similar in nature and origin to the 2008 xenophobic riots that also occurred in Johannesburg.

2009: Survey on Rape in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape

A 2009 survey of 1,738 men in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape by the Medical Research Council found one in four men admitted to raping someone.

2009: Life Expectancy Differences

According to the South African Institute of Race Relations, the life expectancy in 2009 was 71 years for a white South African and 48 years for a black South African.

2009: Appointment of Health Minister and Increased HIV Treatment Funding

After the 2009 general elections, President Jacob Zuma appointed Aaron Motsoaledi as the health minister and committed his government to increasing funding for and widening the scope of HIV treatment.

2009: Rapid Decline in Gold Mining

By the end of 2009, gold mining in South Africa had declined rapidly.

2010: Jordy Smith Wins Billabong J-Bay Open

In 2010, Durban surfer Jordy Smith won the Billabong J-Bay Open.

2010: Beijing Agreement Signed

In 2010, President Jacob Zuma and Chinese President Hu Jintao upgraded bilateral ties between the two countries when they signed the Beijing Agreement which elevated South Africa's earlier "strategic partnership" with China to the higher level of "comprehensive strategic partnership".

2010: South Africa Hosts FIFA World Cup

South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

2010: Water Access Improvement

To 2010, access to water increased to 79%.

2011: Joined BRICS Grouping

In 2011, South Africa joined the Brazil-Russia-India-China (BRICS) grouping of countries.

2011: First National Climate Change Report Published

In 2011, South Africa published its first national climate change report.

2011: UN Report on Xenophobia

In 2011, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that recent violence had not been as widespread as initially feared.

2012: Tourism Contribution to GDP

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, in 2012, the tourism industry directly contributed ZAR 102 billion to South African GDP.

2012: Oscar Pistorius at Olympic Games

In 2012, Oscar Pistorius became the first double amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympic Games in London.

2012: Iron Ore Supplier to China

In 2012, South Africa overtook India to become the world's third-biggest iron ore supplier to China.

August 2013: African Country of the Future

In August 2013, South Africa was ranked as the top African Country of the Future by fDi Intelligence based on the country's economic potential, labour environment, cost-effectiveness, infrastructure, business friendliness, and foreign direct investment strategy.

2013: Human Development Index recovered

In 2013 the United Nations Human Development Index recovered its 1995 peak.

2013: Coldest Temperature Recorded

In 2013, the coldest temperature on mainland South Africa, −20.1 °C, was recorded in Buffelsfontein in the Eastern Cape.

2014: Poverty Levels

In 2014, some 56% of the South African population lived below the poverty line and 21% below $2.15 a day.

2014: Rapes Reported in 2014/15

In 2014/15, 43,195 rapes were reported in South Africa.

2014: Record Number of Rhinos Killed

Statistics from the Department of Environmental Affairs show a record 1,215 rhinos were killed in 2014 in South Africa.

2015: People Living with HIV

According to the 2015 UNAIDS medical report, South Africa had an estimated seven million people living with HIV – more than any other country in the world.

2015: Estimated Population

According to the United Nations' World Population Prospects, South Africa's total population was 55.3 million in 2015.

2015: Students Aided by Financial Aid Scheme

By 2015, 1.4 million students in higher education in South Africa had been aided by a financial aid scheme which was promulgated in 1999.

2015: Progress in HIV Treatment

By 2015, South Africa had made significant progress in HIV treatment, with the widespread availability of antiretroviral drugs resulting in an increase in life expectancy.

2015: Wealth Distribution

In 2015, 71% of net wealth was held by 10% of the population, whereas 60% of the population held only 7% of the net wealth, and the Gini coefficient was 0.63.

2015: Gold Production Figures

In 2015, South Africa's gold production was 145 metric tonnes.

2015: The Endless River Selected for Venice Film Festival

In 2015, the Oliver Hermanus film The Endless River became the first South African film selected for the Venice Film Festival.

2015: SAA Bailouts

Some of these SOEs have not been profitable, such as SAA, which has required bailouts totaling R30 billion ($2.03 billion) over the 20 years preceding 2015.

2016: Second National Climate Change Report Published

In 2016, South Africa published its second national climate change report.

2016: Wayde van Niekerk World Record

Wayde van Niekerk being the world record holder in 400 metres since 2016.

March 2017: Number of Murders in South Africa

In the year ended March 2017, there were 20,336 murders and the murder rate was 35.9 per 100,000.

April 2017: Daily Murders in South Africa

From April 2017 to March 2018, on average 57 murders were committed each day in South Africa.

2017: Signed UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

In 2017, South Africa signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

2017: Freight Carried on Rail Network

In 2017, South Africa's rail network carried nearly 230 million tons of freight.

February 2018: Zuma's Resignation

On 14 February 2018, Jacob Zuma resigned the presidency.

March 2018: Daily Murders in South Africa

From April 2017 to March 2018, on average 57 murders were committed each day in South Africa.

March 2018: Zuma to face criminal charges

On 16 March 2018, National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams announced that Zuma would again face prosecution on criminal charges.

2018: Xenophobic attacks

Between 1994 and 2018, there were more than 500 xenophobic attacks against foreigners in South Africa.

2018: HIV Prevalence and AIDS-Related Deaths

In 2018, HIV prevalence among adults (15–49 years) in South Africa was 20.4%, and 71,000 people died from an AIDS-related illness.

2018: Establishment of Zondo Commission

In 2018, the Zondo Commission was established to investigate allegations of corruption and state capture.

2018: Cape Town Water Crisis

In early 2018, Cape Town faced a water crisis as the city's water supply was predicted to run dry before the end of June.

2019: SANDF Size

As of 2019, the SANDF consists of around 75,000 professional soldiers.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

In 2019, South Africa had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.94/10, ranking it 112th globally.

2019: Tourism Industry Contribution

In 2019, the tourist industry accounted for 2.34% of South Africa's GDP.

2019: Murders in South Africa

More than 526,000 South Africans were murdered from 1994 to 2019.

2019: Third Rugby World Cup Win

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2019.

2019: Johannesburg Riots

The 2019 Johannesburg riots were similar in nature and origin to the 2008 xenophobic riots that also occurred in Johannesburg.

February 2020: Arrest Warrant Issued

In February 2020, a warrant was issued for Jacob Zuma's arrest after he failed to appear in court.

2020: Arms Exporter Ranking

As of 2020 South Africa is the world's 24th largest arms exporter, the only nation in Africa.

2020: Pledge to Peak Emissions

As part of its international commitments, South Africa has pledged to peak emissions between 2020 and 2025.

2020: Sharp Drop in Tourism

In 2020, tourism sharply dropped to 0.81% of South Africa's GDP due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Political and Economic Crisis

Since 2020, South Africa has been undergoing a period of intense political and economic crisis, leading to warnings of a potential collapse into a failed state.

2020: Financial Secrecy Index Ranking

The 2020 Financial Secrecy Index ranked South Africa as the 58th safest tax haven in the world.

2021: Number of Airports

As of 2021, South Africa had 407 airports.

2021: Zuma found guilty

In 2021 Jacob Zuma was found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment.

2021: Decline in Freight

In 2021, the amount of freight carried on the rail network declined to 179 million tons.

2021: Loadshedding Duration

In 2021, the cumulated duration of the outages due to rotational load shedding was equivalent to 48 days.

2022: Census Results for Most Spoken Languages

According to the 2022 census, the three most spoken first languages in South Africa are Zulu (24.4%), Xhosa (16.6%), and Afrikaans (10.6%).

2022: South Africa Population

As of 2022, South Africa has a population of about 62 million people. The last census was also held in 2022.

2022: Cape Town International Airport Award

During the 2022 Skytrax World Airport Awards, Cape Town International Airport was voted the best airport on the African continent for the seventh consecutive year.

2022: Neutrality on Russia-Ukraine War

In 2022, South Africa maintained a position of neutrality regarding the Russia invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war.

2022: Defence Expenditure in 2022

In 2022, South Africa spent US$3.069 billion on its armed forces, about 0.86% of the nation's entire GDP.

2022: Ibrahim Index of African Governance Ranking

In 2022, South Africa was placed sixth out of 48 sub-Saharan African countries on the Ibrahim Index of African Governance. South Africa scored well in Rule of Law, Transparency, Corruption, Participation and Human Rights, but scored low in Safety and Security.

2022: Women's Team Wins Africa Cup of Nations

In 2022, the South African women's team won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

2022: Zondo Commission Findings

In 2022, the Zondo Commission released its findings, revealing rampant corruption at every level of government.

2022: Increased Loadshedding Duration

In 2022, the cumulated duration of the outages due to rotational load shedding was equivalent to 157 days.

2022: Census Racial Population Groups

The 2022 census figures for racial population groups in South Africa were: Black African at 81%, Coloured at 8.2%, White at 7.3%, Indian or Asian at 2.7%, and Other/Unspecified at 0.5%.

February 2023: Crime Rate Ranking

As of February 2023, South Africa has the sixth highest crime rate in the world.

December 2023: ICJ Case on Gaza

On 29 December 2023, South Africa formally submitted its case to the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's conduct in the Gaza Strip.

2023: Special Task Force Ranking

In 2023 the Special Task Force (SAPS) placed 9th at the international SWAT competition out of 55 law enforcement teams from across the world making it the best in Africa.

2023: South African Sign Language recognized as official language

In 2023, South African Sign Language was recognized as an official language.

2023: Further Increase in Loadshedding Duration

In 2023, the cumulated duration of the outages due to rotational load shedding was equivalent to 289 days.

2023: Women's Team at FIFA Women's World Cup

In 2023, the women's team reached the last 16 at the FIFA Women's World Cup.

2023: Fourth Rugby World Cup Win

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2023.

2023: GDP per capita

South Africa's GDP per capita at purchasing power parity was US$16,080 in 2023, ranked 95th.

2023: ICC Women's T20 World Cup Hosted

The 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup was hosted in South Africa.

March 2024: Energy Supply Stabilizes

Since late March 2024, energy supply has stabilized with no planned power cuts.

May 2024: 2024 Election Results

In May 2024, the ANC lost its majority in the parliamentary election for the first time since the end of Apartheid, winning only 40% of the vote. The Democratic Alliance (DA) won 22% of the vote, uMkhonto weSizwe won 14.6%, and the Economic Freedom Fighters won 9.5%. After the election in May 2024, the ANC formed a Government of National Unity with the DA and several smaller parties.

2024: High Unemployment Rate

As of 2024, South Africa has a high unemployment rate, with about 32% of the population unemployed.

2024: Global Innovation Ranking

In 2024, South Africa was ranked 69th in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: ANC Vote Share Falls Below 50%

In 2024, following the general elections, the African National Congress saw its share of the national vote fall below 50% for the first time since the end of Apartheid. President Ramaphosa announced a national unity government and was reelected for a second term.

2024: ICC T20 World Cup

The men's team won silver at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.

2025: Pledge to Peak Emissions

As part of its international commitments, South Africa has pledged to peak emissions between 2020 and 2025.

2050: Projected Temperature Increase

By 2050, computer-generated climate modelling produced by the South African National Biodiversity Institute projects temperature increases of about 1 °C along the coast to more than 4 °C in the already hot hinterland.