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EventDr. Hendrik Verwoerd announces his plan to grant Transkei independence
On 23 January 1962, Dr Hendrik Verwoerd announced his plan to grant independence to the Transkei, a homeland proposed for Xhosa people under the apartheid…
EventUN report accuses Katangan President and Congo President of conspiracy to murder Patrice Lumumba
On 14 November 1961 Katangan President, Moise Tshombe, and Congo President, Joseph Kasavubu, were accused of conspiracy to murder ex-premier Patrice Lumumba in…
EventHendrik Verwoerd becomes Prime Minister
Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd assumed office as the Prime Minister of South Africa after the death of J.G. Strijdom. An ardent advocate of Apartheid, Verwoerd…
Event20 000 Women march to the Union Buildings in protest of pass laws
In one of the largest demonstrations staged in this country's history, 20 000 women of all races marched to Pretoria's Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, to…
EventOver 400 Kikuyu suspected to be part of the Mau Mau movement are arrested in Kenya
Mali was once part of the Great Songhay Empire, but came under French rule in 1892. After almost seventy years of colonial rule, Mali was renamed the Sudanese…
EventSimon Petros Matseke, prominent in African social and political life, dies in Pretoria
Peter Matseke was born in 1878 in Pretoria. When the Anglo-Boer War broke out, he was drafted as driver for Boer Commandos. Through that experience, he learnt…
EventBishop Desmond Tutu leaves for the USA to meet with American President Ronald Reagan
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is known around the world for his vigorous stand against injustice. More particularly, he is renowned for his involvement in the fight…
EventPercy Qoboza, editor of the Post, states that it is difficult to see how a credible newspaper for Blacks can be created in South Africa
Percy Qoboza was a journalist and outspoken critic of the apartheid regime. He initially studied in the field of theology, but became involved in journalism…
EventMinister announces compulsory education for Black children
The minister of (Black) education and training, Dr Ferdinand Hartzenberg, announced that compulsory education for Black children would be introduced in stages,…
EventWiehahn Commission Report tabled in parliament
On 1 May 1979, the first interim report of the Wiehahn Commission is tabled in Parliament. The Wiehahn Commission was set up by the government after the Durban…
EventMK hero cadre Solomon Kalushi (Khala) Mahlangu is executed
Solomon Kalushi (Khala) Mahlangu was executed by the Apartheid regime for being part of an abortive attempt by African National Congress (ANC) members to…
EventUS Secretary of State Cyrus Vance travels to South Africa to promote transition to black rule in Namibia
South Africa had seized the German territory (then known as South-West Africa) during World War I and retained it after the war under a League of Nations…
EventSouth Africa relinquishes sovereignty over Walvis Bay
Location: back to this day in history search archive Walvis Bay, from the Dutch for "Whale Bay", is situated in Namibia, along the west coast of southern…
EventUS House of Representatives approve Bill to impose stricter sanctions on Apartheid South Africa
On 18 June 1986, the House of Representatives of the United States of America approved a Bill that would impose stricter sanctions against South Africa. This…
EventWWI: battalion consisting of ‘Cape Coloured men’, called the Cape Corps, is established
On 20 September 1915 a new battalion consisting of Cape Coloured men, called the Cape Corps was established with the view of being dispatched to East Africa in…
EventFormation of the South African Native National Congress
The South African Native National Congress (SANNC), later known as the Africa National Congress (ANC) was founded on the 8 January 1912. At SANNC's inaugural…
EventSA artist Ernest Methuen Mancoba is born
South African artist Ernest Methuen Mancoba was born in Boksburg, Transvaal. He left for Paris to further his studies in 1938. Mancoba never returned to live…
EventBritish establish first ‘refugee’ camps during the South African War
The first 2 'refugee' camps were established in Pretoria and Bloemfontein during South African War (Second Anglo-Boer War) by a military notice. The initial…
EventC James reports that South Africa is a poor market for produce
In 1900, C James, an official of the British colonial administration, went on a voyage to South Africa to evaluate the market for produce. He undertook this…
EventMoïse Kapenda Tshombe leads the Congelese Province of Katanga into secession
Following the independence of Congo in June 1960 from Belgium, MoÁ¯se Kapenda Tshombe led the Congo province of Katanga into secession on 23 December 1961…
PlaceFirst Raadsaal
Click on image to enlarge The oldest remaining building in Bloemfontein, the First Raadsaal is part of the National Museum. The modest building of dung floors…
PlaceOrlando Stadium
This was the site of the first stadium in Soweto, officially opened in 1959. For almost 50 years this was a famous home of soccer, associated with a host of…
ArchiveWebinar Programme: Debating Socialist Lineages. Convenors Shahid Vawda and Lungisile Ntsebeza
Webinar Programme: Debating Socialist Lineages. Convenors: Shahid Vawda and Lungisile Ntsebeza The Making of the Trotskyist Tradition in South Africa: A…
ArchiveThe Black Consciousness Movement and Steve Biko By Jonathan Ansumana
We are currently in the continent of Africa. The country located furthest south is called South Africa. It is the year 1948. A law promoting Apartheid has just…
The Life and Politics of Steve Biko by Yunus Momoniat, November 2014
Steve Biko was not alone in forging the Black Consciousness Movement, he was nevertheless its most prominent leader, who with others guided the movement of…
Chapter 1: The 1971 Art South Africa Today Exhibition: Towards a Language of protest art
Overt socio-political protest in South African art, as I have suggested, first made a substantial appearance, in 1971, at the national and biennial Art South…
ArticleThe Cabinet Reshuffle of 2017
On 31 March 2017, President Jacob Zuma exercised his constitutional rights as the head of the executive branch by appointing, reshuffling and dismissing…
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 110 of 1983
Background Before P W Botha came to power in 1978, the government of John Vorster had begun a process for constitutional reforms. A commission headed by…
ArticleIndustrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU)
During the 1920s, the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) - which changed its name to the African National Congress (ANC) in 1923 - did not…
ArticleThe Constitution
South African Constitution of 1996 Republic of South Africa The Republic of South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state founded on the following values: …