History of South Africa in Timeline

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It has nine provinces and a 2,798 km coastline along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. It borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Lesotho. Covering 1,221,037 sq km, it's the sixth-most populated African country with over 63 million people. Pretoria is the administrative capital, Cape Town the legislative, and Bloemfontein the judicial capital. Johannesburg is the largest city, followed by Cape Town and Durban.

1902: End of the Second Boer War

In 1902, the Second Boer War concluded with a British victory, leading to significant devastation and displacement, contributing to urbanization.

1909: South Africa Act

In 1909, the South Africa Act was passed, paving the way for the creation of the Union of South Africa.

May 1910: Creation of the Union of South Africa

On 31 May 1910, the South Africa Act 1909 created the Union of South Africa, granting the country nominal independence.

1910: South Africa unification

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 through the amalgamation of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange River colonies, marking a significant step in the country's history following the Second Boer War.

1911: First Census Shows White Population

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

1913: Natives Land Act

In 1913, the Natives Land Act was passed, restricting land ownership by Black South Africans.

1924: Discovery of the Taung Child

In 1924, the Taung Child, the first hominin fossil discovered in Africa, was found near Taung.

1930: Mhudi Writing Date

One of the first well-known novels written by a black author in an African language was Solomon Thekiso Plaatje's Mhudi, written in 1930.

1931: Full sovereignty from the United Kingdom

In 1931, South Africa achieved full sovereignty from the United Kingdom with the passage of the Statute of Westminster.

1934: Formation of the United Party

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

1939: Split of the United Party

In 1939, the United Party split over South Africa's entry into World War II.

1945: Fungi species recorded

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

1948: Cry, the Beloved Country publication

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

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1948: Unofficial high temperature recorded

In 1948, an unofficial temperature of 51.7 °C (125.06 °F) was recorded in the Northern Cape Kalahari near Upington.

1948: National Party Imposes Apartheid

In 1948, the National Party imposed apartheid, officially institutionalizing racial segregation in South Africa.

1948: National Party elected and Apartheid begins

In 1948, the National Party was elected to power in South Africa and began strengthening racial segregation, which came to be known as apartheid.

1950: South Africa Population in 1950

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

1955: Adoption of the Freedom Charter

In 1955, the Congress Alliance adopted the Freedom Charter, demanding a non-racial society and an end to discrimination.

May 1961: South Africa becomes a republic

On 31 May 1961, South Africa became a republic after a referendum, leading to the loss of Elizabeth II's title as Queen of South Africa.

1961: South Africa becomes a republic

In 1961, South Africa became a republic following a referendum, marking a shift in its political structure.

1961: Republic of South Africa

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, cardiac surgeon Christiaan Barnard performed the first human-to-human heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital.

1970: South Africa's Gold Production Peaks

In 1970, South Africa's gold production peaked at nearly 1,000 tonnes, representing two-thirds of global production.

1974: Mahlabatini Declaration of Faith

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

1979: Publication of Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena

Elsa Joubert's novel Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena (The Long Journey of Poppie Nongena) was published in 1979.

1979: Vela incident

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

1979: Jody Scheckter world champion

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

1980: Nuclear weapons assembled

Between 1980 and 1990, six operational nuclear devices were covertly assembled in South Africa.

1980: White Population in 1980

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

1983: Constitution Act of 1983

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

1987: Nando's Founded

Nando's, which specialises in flame-grilled peri-peri chicken, was founded in Johannesburg in 1987.

1990: Nuclear weapons assembled

Between 1980 and 1990, six operational nuclear devices were covertly assembled in South Africa.

1990: Improved Access to Water

From 1990 to 2010, access to water increased from 66% to 79% in South Africa following the end of apartheid.

1990: Dismantling Apartheid

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

1991: English speakers in South Africa

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

1991: Nadine Gordimer Nobel Prize in Literature

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

1991: Dismantling of nuclear arsenal

In 1991, South Africa voluntarily dismantled its nuclear arsenal, becoming the first country to relinquish its nuclear capability.

1991: Black Muslim Growth

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

1992: Referendum to end Apartheid

In 1992, the white electorate approved the continuation of negotiations to end apartheid.

January 1993: Highest official temperature recorded

In January 1993, the official highest temperature recorded in South Africa was 48.8 °C (119.84 °F) at Vioolsdrif.

1993: Discussions with Nelson Mandela

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

June 1994: Signing of the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity

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

1994: Murders Reported

Between 1994 and 2019, more than 526,000 murders were reported nationwide in South Africa.

1994: First universal elections

In 1994, South Africa held its first universal elections, won by the ANC, and rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations.

1994: Constitutional Court based in Johannesburg

Since 1994, the highest court, the Constitutional Court of South Africa has been based in Johannesburg.

1994: SANDF established

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was established in 1994 through the integration of the former South African Defence Force (SADF) and liberation movement forces.

November 1995: Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity

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

1995: South Africa first won the Rugby World Cup

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

1996: South Africa hosted the African Cup of Nations

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

1996: Penny Heyns Olympic Gold

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

1998: Country of My Skull Publication

Antjie Krog's best-known book, Country of My Skull, was published in 1998.

1998: ICC KnockOut Trophy win

South Africa's national cricket team, the Proteas, won the inaugural edition of the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy by defeating West Indies in the final.South Africa's national blind cricket team also went on to win the inaugural edition of the Blind Cricket World Cup in 1998.

1999: Financial Aid Scheme Promulgated

A financial aid scheme was promulgated in 1999.

2001: Eskom Recognized as Leading Electricity Utility

In 2001, Eskom was internationally recognised as one of the world's leading electricity utilities.

2001: Christian Categories

Per the 2001 census, the Christian category included Zion Christian (11.1%), Pentecostal (Charismatic) (8.2%), Catholic (7.1%), Methodist (6.8%), Dutch Reformed (6.7%), and Anglican (3.8%).

2002: Sydney Brenner Wins Nobel Prize

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

2003: J.M. Coetzee Nobel Prize in Literature

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

2003: Hosted the Cricket World Cup

South Africa hosted the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

2004: Increased Black Muslim Population

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

2004: Tertiary education system reform

In 2004, South Africa started reforming its tertiary education system.

2004: Swimming Gold Medal

In 2004, the swimming team of Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns, Darian Townsend and Ryk Neethling won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Athens, simultaneously breaking the world record in the 4×100 Freestyle Relay.

2004: Popular protests

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

2005: U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival

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

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June 2006: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

On 7 June 2006, South Africa's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan was received by the convention.

2006: Legalisation of same-sex marriage

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

2006: Tsotsi won the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film

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

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2006: Estimated number of fungi species

In 2006, the number of fungi in South Africa was estimated at 200,000 species, but this did not take into account fungi associated with insects.

2006: Chaired the Group of 77

South Africa chaired the Group of 77 in 2006.

2007: Refugee and Asylum Seeker Population in 2007

In 2007, South Africa's refugee and asylum seeker population numbered approximately 144,700, according to the World Refugee Survey 2008.

2007: Government efforts to fight AIDS

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

2007: Hosted World Twenty20 Championship

South Africa hosted the 2007 World Twenty20 Championship.

2007: Rugby World Cup win

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup again in 2007.

May 2008: Anti-Immigrant Riots Begin

In May 2008, a series of anti-immigrant riots occurred in South Africa.

2008: HIV/AIDS infection

A 2008 study revealed that HIV/AIDS infection 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 2008

According to the World Refugee Survey 2008, South Africa hosted approximately 144,700 refugees and asylum seekers in 2007.

2008: Xenophobic Riots

In 2008, South Africa experienced xenophobic riots, resulting in over 60 deaths and displacement of approximately 100,000 people.

2009: Life Expectancy

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

2009: Zuma appointed Aaron Motsoaledi as the health minister

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.

2010: Improved Access to Sanitation

From 1990 to 2010, sanitation access increased from 71% to 79% in South Africa following the end of apartheid.

2010: Jordy Smith won Billabong J-Bay Open

In 2010, Durban surfer Jordy Smith won the Billabong J-Bay Open, making him the highest ranked surfer in the world.

2010: Beijing Agreement

In 2010, President Jacob Zuma and Chinese President Hu Jintao upgraded bilateral ties between the two countries when they signed the Beijing Agreement.

2010: South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup

In 2010, South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup.

2011: Joined BRICS

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

2011: First national climate change report

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

2012: Oscar Pistorius at the Olympic Games

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

2012: Tourism Contribution to GDP

In 2012, tourism directly contributed around R102 billion to South Africa's GDP, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

2013: Coldest temperature recorded

In 2013, the coldest temperature on mainland South Africa was recorded in Buffelsfontein in the Eastern Cape, at −20.1 °C (−4.2 °F).

2014: Poverty levels in South Africa

In 2014, approximately 56% of the South African population lived below the poverty line.

2014: Rhino killings

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

2015: People living with HIV

According to the 2015 UNAIDS medical report, South Africa has an estimated seven million people who are living with HIV.

2015: South Africa Population in 2015

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

2015: Students Aided

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

2015: Antiretroviral drugs Availability

By 2015, South Africa had made significant progress, with the widespread availability of antiretroviral drugs resulted in an increase in life expectancy from 52.1 years to 62.5 years.

2015: The Endless River selected for the Venice Film Festival

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

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2016: Second national climate change report

South Africa published its second national climate change report in 2016.

2016: Wayde van Niekerk World Record

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

April 2017: Murder Rate

From April 2017 to March 2018, an average of 57 murders per day were recorded in South Africa.

March 2018: Murder Rate

From April 2017 to March 2018, an average of 57 murders per day were recorded in South Africa.

2018: HIV prevalence

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

2018: Cape Town Water Crisis

In early 2018, Cape Town faced a water crisis with the city's water supply predicted to run dry before the end of June, leading to water-saving measures.

2019: Murders Reported

Between 1994 and 2019, more than 526,000 murders were reported nationwide in South Africa.

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 out of 172 countries.

2019: Port of Durban Handles 4.5 Million TEUs

In 2019, the Port of Durban handled approximately 4.5 million TEUs, making it the largest and busiest container port in sub-Saharan Africa.

2019: Ratified the UN Treaty

South Africa ratified the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2019.

2019: Rugby World Cup win

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup again in 2019.

2020: Pledge to peak emissions

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

2021: Unrest following Zuma's imprisonment

In 2021, widespread unrest occurred following Jacob Zuma's imprisonment for contempt of court, resulting in 354 deaths.

2022: Christian population

According to the 2022 census, Christians accounted for 85.3% of the population.

2022: Most spoken first languages

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

2022: MTN User Base in 2022

As of 2022, MTN had nearly 290 million users, making it Africa's largest mobile network operator.

2022: South Africa Population in 2022

As of 2022, South Africa had a population of about 62 million people.

2022: Ibrahim Index of African Governance

In 2022, South Africa was placed sixth out of 48 sub-Saharan African countries on the Ibrahim Index of African Governance.

2022: Women's team won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations

In 2022, the South African women's team won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, beating Morocco 2–1 in the final.

2022: 2022 Census Racial Population Groups

In the 2022 census, South Africa's racial population groups 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%.

2023: South African Sign Language recognised as an official language

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

2023: Johannesburg Stock Exchange

In 2023, The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) had a market capitalization of approximately US$1.36 trillion, accounting for roughly 90% of Africa's total market value.

2023: ICC Women's T20 World Cup

In 2023, the ICC Women's T20 World Cup was hosted in South Africa and the women's team won silver.

2023: International SWAT Competition

In the 2023 International SWAT Competition, the STF ranked 9th out of 55 international law enforcement teams.

2023: Rugby World Cup win

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup again in 2023.

2023: Women's team reached the last 16 at the FIFA Women's World Cup

The South African women's team reached the last 16 at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, beating Italy and tying with Argentina in the group stage.

May 2024: Parliamentary election results

In the parliamentary election held on 29 May 2024, the ANC lost its majority for the first time since the end of Apartheid, winning only 40% of the vote.

2024: Unemployment rate

As of 2024, about 32% of the South African population is unemployed.

2024: Load-shedding Suspended

By early 2024, government interventions helped stabilise generation and suspend load-shedding.

2024: Increase in Visitor Numbers

In 2024, South Africa recorded an increase in visitor numbers, reaching approximately 8.92 million passenger arrivals through its ports of entry.

2024: South Africa becomes major agricultural exporter

In 2024, South Africa was the 32nd-largest agricultural exporter globally and the only African country in the top 40, with record exports reaching US$13.7 billion.

2024: ICC T20 World Cup

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

2024: ANC fails to secure parliamentary majority

In the 2024 general election, the ANC failed to secure a parliamentary majority for the first time, leading to the formation of a Government of National Unity.

May 2025: Tourism accounts for 3.3% of GDP

In May 2025, tourism accounted for approximately 3.3% of South Africa's gross domestic product.

October 2025: Announcement of Updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)

In October 2025, Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa announced an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), outlining a transition from coal to a diversified energy mix.

2025: South Africa's Aviation Industry

As of 2025, South Africa has 573 airports and Cape Town International Airport was ranked the best airport in the world by the AirHelp Score index.

2025: South Africa's Railway System in 2025

As of 2025, South Africa has the largest and most developed railway system in Africa, and the 9th-largest in the world, with a total track length of approximately 30,400 km.

2025: GDP per capita

As of 2025, South Africa's purchasing power parity (PPP) of around US$16,000 ranks among the highest on the continent.

2025: Pledge to peak emissions

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

2025: Tourism Employment Statistics

By early 2025, the tourism sector in South Africa employed an estimated 1.8 million people, representing about 10.3% of total employment.

2025: South Africa Ranked 61st in Global Innovation Index

In 2025, South Africa was ranked 61st in the Global Innovation Index.

2025: South Africa Ranked as Fourth Best Tourism Destination

In 2025, South Africa was ranked as the fourth best tourism destination globally and the top destination in Africa and the Indian Ocean region by The Telegraph.

2025: Adult literacy rate

In 2025, the adult literacy rate in South Africa was 95%, the second-highest in Africa.

2025: ICC World Test Championship

South Africa won the 2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship, beating Australia in the final.

2025: Men's U-20 team won the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

South Africa's men's U-20 team won the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

2030: Expected Launch of High-Speed Bullet Trains

South Africa is exploring the development of high-speed bullet trains to enhance national and regional connectivity, with the first line expected to launch in 2030.