History of South Africa in Timeline

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa with 2,798 km of coastline along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. It borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini, and encloses Lesotho. Covering 1,221,037 square kilometers, it has a population exceeding 62 million. Pretoria serves as the administrative capital, Cape Town the legislative, and Bloemfontein the judicial. Johannesburg is the largest city, followed by Cape Town and Durban.

1902: End of the Second Boer War

In 1902, the Second Boer War ended with a British victory due to scorched earth tactics and concentration camps.

1909: South Africa Act

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

May 1910: Union of South Africa created

On 31 May 1910, the Union of South Africa was created, including the former territories of the Cape, Transvaal and Natal colonies, as well as the Orange Free State republic.

1910: South Africa had its own 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: Union of South Africa created

In 1910, the Union of South Africa was created from the former Cape, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange River colonies following the Second Boer War.

1911: 1911 Census Racial Population Groups

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

1912: Establishment of the South African Army

Established in 1912, the South African Army is one of the oldest armies in Africa.

1913: Natives' Land Act restricts land ownership by blacks

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

1920: Establishment of the South African Air Force

Established in 1920, the SAAF is one of the oldest air forces in the world.

1924: Discovery of the Taung Child

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

1930: Publication of Mhudi

In 1930, Solomon Thekiso Plaatje wrote Mhudi, one of the first well-known novels written by a black author in an African language.

1931: Union becomes fully sovereign

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

1934: South African Party and National Party merge

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

1939: Party split over entry into World War II

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

1945: Records of Fungi Species

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

1948: Unofficial Hottest Temperature Recorded in Northern Cape Kalahari

In 1948, an unofficial temperature of 51.7 °C (125.06 °F) was recorded in the Northern Cape Kalahari near Upington, but this temperature is unofficial and was not recorded with standard equipment.

1948: Publication of Cry, the Beloved Country

In 1948, anti-apartheid activist Alan Paton published the novel Cry, the Beloved Country.

Cry, the Beloved Country

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1948: National Party imposes apartheid

In 1948, the National Party imposed apartheid, institutionalizing previous racial segregation.

1948: National Party elected and strengthens racial segregation

In 1948, the National Party was elected to power and strengthened racial segregation, known as apartheid.

1950: South Africa's Population in 1950

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

1955: Freedom Charter adopted

In 1955, the Freedom Charter, adopted by the Congress Alliance, demanded 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 following a referendum, and Elizabeth II lost the title Queen of South Africa.

1961: South Africa becomes a republic

In 1961, South Africa became a republic.

1961: Republic of South Africa 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, cardiac surgeon Christiaan Barnard performed the first human-to-human heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital.

1970: Peak of gold production

In 1970, South Africa's gold production reached 1,000 metric tons, representing almost 80% of the world's mine supply at the time.

1974: Mahlabatini Declaration of Faith

In 1974, the Mahlabatini Declaration of Faith was signed, enshrining principles of peaceful transition and equality.

1979: Jody Scheckter won Formula One World Championship

In 1979, Jody Scheckter became South Africa's Formula One motor racing world champion.

1979: Alleged nuclear test over the Atlantic

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

1980: Completion of nuclear devices

Between 1980 and 1990, six nuclear devices were completed in South Africa.

1980: 1980 Census Racial Population Groups

By 1980, the percentage of whites in the population had declined to 16% in South Africa.

1983: Constitution Act creates "strong presidency"

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

1990: Completion of nuclear devices

Between 1980 and 1990, six nuclear devices were completed in South Africa.

1990: Water access levels in 1990

In 1990, 66% of the population had access to water and 71% had access to sanitation.

1990: National Party lifts ban on ANC and releases Mandela

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

1991: Estimates Based on 1991 Census Suggest Just Under Half of South Africans Could Speak English

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

1991: Nadine Gordimer awarded Nobel Prize

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

1991: South Africa signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

In 1991, South Africa signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and dismantled its nuclear weapons program.

1991: Number of Black Muslims in South Africa

In 1991, there were 12,000 black Muslims in South Africa.

1992: Referendum approves negotiations to end apartheid

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

1992: Life expectancy high point

South African life expectancy was at a high point of 62 years in 1992.

January 1993: Official Hottest Temperature Recorded at Vioolsdrif

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

1993: De Klerk opens discussions with Mandela

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

June 1994: South Africa Signed Rio Convention on Biological Diversity

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

1994: Xenophobic attacks against foreigners

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

1994: South Africa holds 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 the Commonwealth

In 1994, South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations after the end of apartheid.

1994: Creation of the South African National Defence Force

In 1994, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was created as a volunteer military composed of the former South African Defence Force, the forces of the African nationalist groups, and the former Bantustan defence forces.

1994: Government policy after 1994

In 1994, the South African government implemented policies that successfully lowered inflation and stabilized public finances, attracting some foreign investment, although economic growth remained below expectations.

1994: Black South Africans enfranchised

In 1994, the vast majority of Black South Africans were enfranchised.

1994: Universal elections take place

In 1994, universal elections took place, after which all racial groups held political representation.

1994: Unemployment rises in South Africa

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.

1994: The Constitutional Court of South Africa based in Johannesburg

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

November 1995: South Africa Became Party to the Rio Convention

On November 2, 1995, South Africa became a party to the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity.

1995: United Nations Human Development Index falls

From 1995 to 2005, the United Nations Human Development Index fell, largely due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

1995: South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 1995

South Africa first won the Rugby World Cup in 1995, as the host nation.

1996: 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games

In 1996, Penny Heyns won Olympic Gold at the Atlanta Olympic Games.

1996: South Africa hosted and won African Cup of Nations

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

1996: Gini coefficient

In 1996, the Gini coefficient was 0.61.

1998: 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy

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

1998: Land Claims Settled

Since 1998 the South African government has settled 80,000 land claims from people who had been evicted from land by the previous government.

1999: Promulgation of Financial Aid Scheme

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

2001: 2001 Census Religious Affiliations

According to the 2001 census, Christians accounted for 79.8% of the population in South Africa.

2001: Eskom named the best electricity utility

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

2002: Sydney Brenner won Nobel Prize

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

2003: Unemployment rate of black people worsened

Between 1994 and 2003, the overall unemployment rate of black people worsened by official metrics.

2003: 2003 Cricket World Cup

In 2003, South Africa hosted the Cricket World Cup.

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

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

2004: Number of Black Muslims in South Africa

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

2004: Economic growth picked up significantly

From 2004 onward, South Africa experienced significant economic growth, marked by increased employment and capital formation.

2004: South Africa Tertiary Education System Reforms

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: 2004 Olympic Games in Athens

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: Many popular protests

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

2005: Life expectancy falls to low point

In 2005, South African life expectancy fell to a low of 53 years due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

2005: U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha wins Golden Bear

In 2005, 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.

2006: Indictment of Jacob Zuma on criminal charges

In 2006 Jacob Zuma was first indicted on 16 criminal charges.

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: South Africa chaired the Group of 77

In 2006, South Africa chaired the Group of 77.

2006: Tsotsi wins Academy Award

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

2006: Estimated Number of Fungi Species

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

2006: South Africans opposed 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: End of gold production dominance

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

2007: Eskom Implemented Loadshedding

Due to severe mismanagement and corruption at Eskom, loadshedding was implemented for the first time in 2007 to prevent a complete system failure due to the strain on Eskom's power-generating capacity.

2007: Refugee and Asylum Seeker Population in South Africa

In 2007, South Africa hosted approximately 144,700 refugees and asylum seekers.

2007: 2007 World Twenty20 Championship

In 2007, South Africa hosted the World Twenty20 Championship.

2007: Government efforts to fight AIDS

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

2007: Energy crisis began

South Africa has been undergoing an energy crisis since 2007, resulting in routine rolling electricity blackouts.

2007: South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2007

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup again in 2007.

May 2008: Anti-Immigrant Riots

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

May 2008: Riots leave over 60 people dead

In May 2008, riots left over 60 people dead and drove over 100,000 people from their homes, mainly migrants and refugees.

2008: World Refugee Survey 2008

According to the World Refugee Survey 2008, published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, South Africa hosted approximately 144,700 refugees and asylum seekers in 2007.

2008: Gold production

In 2008, South Africa produced 205 metric tons of gold.

2008: HIV/AIDS infection along racial lines

In 2008, a study showed a disparity in HIV/AIDS infection rates, with 13.6% of black South Africans being HIV-positive compared to 0.3% of white South Africans. This resulted in many AIDS orphans depending on the state for care.

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 of men in KwaZulu-Natal and the 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 in South Africa

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: Zuma appointed Aaron Motsoaledi as health minister

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

2009: Decline in gold mining

By the end of 2009, gold mining in South Africa had declined rapidly, producing 205 metric tons (mt) of gold in 2008 compared to 1,000 metric tons produced in 1970.

2010: Increase in access to water and sanitation by 2010

By 2010, access to water in South Africa increased from 66% to 79%, and sanitation access increased from 71% to 79% since 1990.

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: The Beijing Agreement

In 2010, President Jacob Zuma and Chinese President Hu Jintao signed the Beijing Agreement which elevated South Africa's "strategic partnership" with China to the higher level of "comprehensive strategic partnership".

2010: South Africa hosted FIFA World Cup

In 2010, South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup, receiving a grade of 9 out of 10 from FIFA President Sepp Blatter for its successful hosting.

2011: South Africa joined the BRICS grouping of countries

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

2011: Publication of South Africa's First National Climate Change Report

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

2011: UN reports on xenophobia in South Africa

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

2012: 2012 Olympic Games in London

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, the world's largest consumer of iron ore.

2012: Tourism industry contribution to GDP and employment

In 2012, the tourism industry directly contributed R102 billion to South Africa's GDP and supported 10.3% of the country's employment, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.

August 2013: South Africa Ranked Top African Country of the Future

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

2013: Human Development Index recovers 1995 peak

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

2013: Coldest Temperature Recorded in Buffelsfontein

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

2014: High rape rate

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: Estimated Number of People Living with HIV

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

2015: South Africa's Population in 2015

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

2015: Number of 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: Significant progress in HIV treatment

By 2015, South Africa made significant progress in HIV treatment. Widespread availability of antiretroviral drugs resulted in an increase in life expectancy from 52.1 years to 62.5 years.

2015: Wealth distribution

In 2015, 71% of net wealth are held by 10% of the population, whereas 60% of the population held only 7% of the net wealth.

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 required bailouts totaling R30 billion

Over the 20 years leading up to 2015, South African Airways (SAA) required bailouts totaling R30 billion ($2.03 billion) due to unprofitability.

2016: Publication of South Africa's Second National Climate Change Report

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

2016: Wayde van Niekerk world record

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

March 2017: 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 – over five times higher than the global average of 6.2 per 100,000.

April 2017: High murder rate

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

August 2017: Travelers passing through ports of entry

According to Statistics South Africa's latest Tourism and Migration Survey, around 3.5 million travelers passed through the country's ports of entry in August 2017.

2017: South Africa signed the 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

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

February 2018: Jacob Zuma resigns the presidency

On 14 February 2018, Jacob Zuma resigned the presidency of South Africa.

March 2018: High murder rate

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

March 2018: Zuma to face prosecution on criminal charges

On 16 March 2018, Shaun Abrahams announced that Zuma would again face prosecution on 16 criminal charges.

2018: Xenophobic attacks against foreigners

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) was 20.4% in South Africa, and in the same year 71,000 people died from an AIDS-related illness.

2018: Establishment of the Zondo Commission

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

2018: Water Crisis in Cape Town

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 strict water-saving measures.

2019: Size of the South African National Defence Force

As of 2019, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) consists of around 75,000 professional soldiers.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Score

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: Tourist industry contribution to GDP

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: South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2019

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup again 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: Warrant issued for Zuma's arrest

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

2020: South Africa is the world's 24th largest arms exporter

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

2020: Pledge to Peak Emissions

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

2020: Financial Secrecy Index ranking

In 2020, the Financial Secrecy Index ranked South Africa as the 58th safest tax haven globally.

2020: Sharp drop in GDP due to pandemic

In 2020, there was a sharp drop in the tourism industry's contribution to South Africa's GDP to 0.81% due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Political and economic crisis

South Africa has been undergoing a period of political and economic crisis since 2020, raising concerns about it becoming a failed state.

2021: Number of airports in South Africa in 2021

As of 2021, South Africa had 407 airports, ranking it as the leading country in Africa and 20th globally in terms of airport ownership.

2021: Zuma found guilty and imprisoned, supporters riot

In 2021, Jacob Zuma was found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to imprisonment, leading to protests, riots, and violence.

2021: Freight carried on rail network in 2021

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

2021: Duration of outages due to rotational load shedding

In 2021, the cumulative duration of outages due to rotational load shedding in South Africa, with each lasting 2 to 4 hours, was equivalent to 48 days.

2022: 2022 Census on Most Spoken First 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's Population in 2022

As of 2022, South Africa had a population of about 62 million people according to the last census held in 2022.

2022: Cape Town International Airport voted best in Africa

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: South Africa's Neutral Stance on Russia-Ukraine War

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

2022: South Africa placed sixth on the 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. It scored well in Rule of Law, Transparency, Corruption, Participation and Human Rights, but scored low in Safety and Security.

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

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

2022: Release of Zondo Commission Findings

In 2022, the Zondo Commission released its findings, which revealed widespread corruption at all levels of the government and implicated the African National Congress and Jacob Zuma in state capture.

2022: Duration of outages due to rotational load shedding

In 2022, the cumulative duration of outages due to rotational load shedding in South Africa, with each lasting 2 to 4 hours, was equivalent to 157 days.

2022: South Africa spent US$3.069 billion on its armed forces

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

2022: 2022 Census Racial Population Groups

The 2022 census 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%.

February 2023: South Africa has the sixth highest crime rate in the world

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

December 2023: South Africa Submits Case Against Israel to ICJ

In December 2023, South Africa formally submitted its case to the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's conduct in the Gaza Strip, alleging genocide against Palestinians.

2023: GDP per capita

As of 2023, South Africa has a relatively high gross domestic product (GDP) per capita compared to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa US$16,080 at purchasing power parity ranked 95th.

2023: The Special Task Force (SAPS) placed 9th at the international SWAT competition

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: 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup

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

2023: South African Sign Language Recognized as Official Language

In 2023, South African Sign Language was recognized as an official language, adding to the existing 11 official languages.

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

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

2023: Duration of outages due to rotational load shedding

In 2023, the cumulative duration of outages due to rotational load shedding in South Africa, with each lasting 2 to 4 hours, was equivalent to 289 days.

2023: South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2023

South Africa won the Rugby World Cup again in 2023, bringing their total wins to four, the most of any country.

March 2024: Energy supply stabilized with no planned power cuts

As of late March 2024, South Africa's energy supply stabilized, with no planned power cuts, following several years of electricity supply shortages that had constrained the country's growth.

May 2024: ANC lost its majority for the first time since the end of Apartheid

In May 2024, the ANC lost its majority for the first time since the end of Apartheid, winning only 40% of the vote and 159 seats, while the main opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), won 22% of the vote and 87 seats. uMkhonto weSizwe, won 14.6% of the vote and 58 seats, while the Economic Freedom Fighters won 9.5% of the vote and 39 seats. After the election, the ANC formed a Government of National Unity with the DA and several smaller parties.

2024: Unemployment and poverty in South Africa

As of 2024, about 32% of the population is unemployed in South Africa, while some 56% live below the poverty line.

2024: ANC Vote Share Falls Below 50% in 2024 General Elections

Following the 2024 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, though it remained the single largest party. President Ramaphosa was reelected and announced a national unity government.

2024: Global Innovation Index ranking

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

2024: 2024 ICC T20 World Cup

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

2025: Pledge to Peak Emissions

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

2025: Adult Literacy Rate in South Africa

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

2050: Projected Temperature Increase in Southern Africa

By 2050, computer-generated climate modelling produced by the South African National Biodiversity Institute predicts parts of southern Africa will see an increase in temperature by about 1 °C (1.8 °F) along the coast to more than 4 °C (7.2 °F) in the already hot hinterland such as the Northern Cape in late spring and summertime.