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EventSimon van der Stel, commander and governor of the Cape, is born
Simon van der Stel was born on 14 October 1639 in Mauritius, the son of Adrian van der Stel, a Dutch East India Company (DEIC) official and Maria Lievens, the…
EventJan van Riebeeck, Dutch colonial administrator and first commander of the colony at the Cape of Good Hope, is born
Founder of and first commander of Cape Town, Johan Anthoniszoon van Riebeeck, was born in Culemborg in the Netherlands on 21 April 1619. An administrator for…
EventThe Santo Alberto is wrecked
The Portuguese cargo ship Santo Alberto was wrecked on the coast of Pondoland, south-west of the mouth of the Umtata River. Through admirable leadership of the…
EventThe first missionary in Southern Africa, Gonçalo da Silveira, is murdered
Gonçalo da Silveira was a Jesuit Priest born and educated in Portugal. He was a missionary in India, acting as provincial superior for the Jesuits, before he…
EventThe ship São Bento (St Benedict) is wrecked on the Transkei coast
Though the date on which the São Bento was shipwrecked is under dispute (some sources claim the ship was wrecked on the 22 April 1554), the reason for the…
EventDisaster strikes as Portuguese ship São João sinks
The Portuguese ship São João went down near the mouth of the Mzimvubu River (at the present Port St. Johns) with 600 people on board. The ship was returning…
EventVasco da Gama dies
Vasco da Gama, Portuguese seafarer who discovered a sea route from Europe to Asia around the southern point of Africa, died on his final voyage to India as…
EventBartholomew Dias, Portuguese discoverer of the Cape of Good Hope, drowns at sea
The first European known to set foot on South African soil was Bartholomew (or Bartolomeu) Dias. In December 1487 Dias sailed down the African coast, landing…
EventExplorer and navigator Vasco da Gama completes his voyage round the Cape of Good Hope to India
Vasco Da Gama was of noble birth and was the son of an explorer, however little else is known about his early life. Da Gama was said to have been educated in…
EventPortuguese sailors reach St Helena Bay
Vasco da Gama's Voyage of "Discovery" The reason for putting "discovery" in inverted commas is because the land was not, as so many explorers argue,…
EventVasco da Gama’s expedition reaches St Helena Bay
The Portuguese expedition set off from the Tagus River on 8 July 1497 with a crew of 148 men in a squadron of three square-riggers, the Sao Gabriel, the Sao…
EventPortuguese navigator Bartholomew Dias erects the first stone cross on the South African coast
Portuguese navigator Bartholomew Dias erects his first padrÁƒo, or stone cross, at Kwaaihoek near the mouth of the Bushman's River on the Eastern Cape coast…
EventBartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay
Bartolomeu Dias discovered that he had sailed past the southern-most point of Africa. A strong wind had driven him so far south of Cape Point that he did not…
EventBartolomeu Dias enters Luderitz Bay
Portuguese seafarer Bartolomeu Dias enters the wide bay now known as Luderitz Bay after sailing for three weeks along the arid Namibia coast of south west…
EventNoble South Africans win Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is considered by many to be a symbol of international recognition over the prize winners struggle to create a more peaceful world. South…
World Oceans Day
May Day
On 1 May, South Africa will enjoy Worker's Day (effectively a May Day holiday). Worker's Day celebrates the role played by Trade Unions, the Communist Party…
EventWorld Aids Day
Following the January 1988 meeting of Health Ministers in London, a decision was taken that 1 December would annually be observed as World Aids Day. The step…
EventFirst Black Test cricket captain in SA is announced
Ashwell Prince was appointed as South Africa's first Black Test cricket captain to lead the Protea team in Sri Lanka. This announcement was made by Cricket…
EventUN spokesman comments on Mugabe’s eviction campaign
Miloon Kothari, a United Nations (UN) housing expert, said most of those displaced by President Robert Mugabe's May 2005 eviction campaign remained homeless,…
EventAnnouncement of Hezekiel Sepeng’s 2 years suspension
Athletics South Africa (ASA) announced that South Africa's former Olympic 800m silver medallist Hezekiel Sepeng was banned on 11 May 2005 from all competition…
EventMinister of Public Works Stella Sigcau dies
Former Transkei Prime Minister and Minister of Public Work Stella Sigcau died at Durban's St Augustine Hospital at the age of 69. Sigcau died of a recurring…
EventEpainette Mbeki receives the Order of the Baobab
A 90 year old Epainette Mbeki, businesswomen and community worker in Idutywa, Eastern Cape, received the Order of the Baobab in Gold for her "exceptional…
EventPresident Robert Mugabe defends land reform programme
On 18 April 2005, Zimbabwe celebrated twenty-five years of independence after the overthrow of white majority rule, under the then Prime Minister Ian Smith. …
EventCelebrated South African photographer, David Goldblatt, receives Hasselblad honours
Celebrated South African photographer, David Goldblatt was honoured for his portrayal of social and political life in the country of his birth. David Goldblatt…
EventTsotsi wins Academy Award
On 6 March 2006, the South African film Tsotsi, starring young actors Presley Chweneyagae and Terry Pheto and directed by Gavin Woods, received the Oscar for…
EventAt an international summit in SA leaders pledge to push for a new global trade deal that will help poor countries
On 12 of February 2006, the Progressive Governance Network held a summit in Hammanskraal South Africa. The aim of this gathering was to strategize ways in…
EventGrant Baker, SA surfer, wins the Mavericks Surf Contest at Santa Cruz
An accomplished short board surfer with a fondness for tube-riding, Grant Baker from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal became the first surfer from outside Santa Cruz,…
EventTshwane Metro’s 5th anniversary celebrations held at Church Square
On 21 January 2006, approximately ten thousand residents of Pretoria attended Tshwane Metro's 5th anniversary celebrations. Held in Church Square in Pretoria's…
EventSouth African President Thabo Mbeki hails Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for making history by becoming Africa’s first elected woman president in post-war elections
South African President Thabo Mbeki hails Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for making history by becoming Africa's first elected woman president in…