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EventDr Robert Broom is born
This day in history, Robert Broom, known for having discovered “Mrs Ples”, was born in Paisley, Scotland. Though Broom was educated as a doctor, specializing…
ArticleCape Town Timeline 1300-1997
Photograph of a Khoisan lady. Source: unknown 1300-1599 c.1300-c.1500 The Khoisan are established as the dominant power in the southern and south…
ArticleLiberation Struggle in South Africa
Although Apartheid only ‘officially’ started in 1948, repression was rife in South Africa long before that date. This special project examines the Freedom…
ArticleSouth West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO)
The South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) was founded in Windhoek, South West Africa (presently Namibia) on 19 April 1960 by Herman Toivo ja Toivo…
ArticleRole of Black people in the South African War
Introduction The South African War of 1899-1902 was essentially a 'White mans' war, fought to determine which white authority had real power in South Africa…
PlacePhoenix Settlement and Gandhi Trail
The Phoenix Settlement comprised of 100 acres of land and was purchased by Gandhiji in 1904. It was on this Settlement that Gandhi started his journey of…
BiographyGertrude Hope (nee Posthumus) Cooper
Gertrude Hope (nee Posthumus) Cooper, the second-youngest of eight children was born in King Williamstown but grew up Worcester where her father, an engineer…
BiographyMongane Wally Serote
Mongane Wally Serote was born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg on 8 May 1944, just four years before the National Party (NP) came to power in South Africa. His…
BiographySicelo Mhlauli
Sicelo Mhlauli was born on 25 May 1949 in Cradock. After completing high school, he trained as a teacher at Lovedale College and upon completion taught at…
Benjamin Johnson Langa
Benjamin (Ben) Johnson, Langa’s father, was a Minister of Religion and his mother was a housewife who was also intensely involved in the church. There were…
BiographyMargaret Roach Killie Campbell
Margaret Roach Campbell (Killie Campbell) was born at Mount Edgecombe on 9 September 1881, the second of four children of the Natal senator and sugar magnate,…
Chief Dingiswayo
Paramount Chief of the Mthethwa and leader of various northern Nguni groups who lived in the Zululand area before Shaka brought them under his rule. Little…
BiographyMewa Ramgobin
Mewalal “Mewa” Ramgobin was born on 10 November 1932 in Inanda, Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal). His grandparents arrived in Natal as indentured labourers. His…
BiographyRonald (Ronnie) Kasrils
Ronald Kasrils was born in Yeoville, Johannesburg, on 15 November 1938. His grandparents were immigrants from Latvia and Lithuania, who had fled from the…
BiographySedick Isaacs
Sedick Isaacs was born in 1939 and grew up in the Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, Western Province (now Western Cape). He was the second eldest in a family of four…
BiographySylvia Neame
Sylvia Brereton Neame (also known as Sylvia Neame-Jahn) was born in 1937, one of four children. She had two older brothers, Peter and Graham, as well as a twin…
BiographyDavid Hemson
David Hemson was born on 18 July 1945 in Durban, Natal. His father was a serviceman and by default Hemson was granted British citizenship. Hemson grew up in a…
ArticleTimeline: Father Trevor Huddleston
1913 15 June, Trevor Huddleston is born in Chaucer Road, Bedford, England. Huddleston is christened at St Paul’s Church in Bedford. 1921-1937 …
ArchiveBibliography by Howard Barrell
This bibliography includes all books, articles and primary material referred to in the text and footnotes, as well as a few additional works which were…
Sing Me a Song of History: South African Poets and Singers in Exile, 1900–1990 by Marian De Saxe, University of Sydney (2010)
"Attack, Advance, Give the Enemy No Quarter!"by O. R. Tambo, Message of the National Executive Committee of the ANC on the 74th Anniversary of the ANC, 8 January 1986
ArticleFederation of South African Women by Skylar Jayes
This article was written by Skylar Jayes and forms part of the SAHO and Southern Methodist University partnership projectAbstractThe Federation of South…
ArticleApartheid and reactions to it
In 1948, the National Party (NP), representing Afrikaners, won the national election on a platform of racism and segregation under the slogan of 'apartheid’…
ArticleThe Angolan Civil War (1975-2002): A Brief History
The overthrow of Portugal’s Prime Minister, Marcello Caetano, on 25 April 1974 hailed a watershed moment for the former Portuguese colonies of Mozambique,…
BiographyElizabeth "Rocky" Mafekeng
Elizabeth Mafekeng was born in 1918 in Tarkastad and attended school until Standard 7. Living conditions in her birthplace forced her to leave for Paarl in…
BiographyHelen Newton Thompson
Helen Newton Thompson, an anti-apartheid political activist and founding member of the Black Sash, has for the most part of history, been a fleeting footnote…
BiographySally Gross
Born on August 22, 1953 in Wynberg, Cape Town, Sally Gross is one of the most challenging and important figures in our country’s history. Gross was born…
BiographyZwelinzima Joseph Vavi
Zwelinzima Joseph Vavi was born on 20 December 1962 on a farm in Hanover, Northern Cape. His father was a mineworker. Vavi has four brothers and seven sisters…
BiographyDavid Bruce
David Bruce received a call-up notice from the South African Defence Force (SADF) in July 1987. His choices were two years in the army, exile, or six years in…
BiographyDiana Ferrus
Internationally renowned South African poet, writer, and activist for marginalised groups, Diana Ferrus, was born on 29 August 1953 in Worcester, Cape Province…