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EventEllen Phyllis Hellmann, social anthropologist and executive member of the SAIRR, dies in Johannesburg
Ellen Phyllis Hellmann was born in Johannesburg in 1908. Her father had immigrated to South Africa from Germany in 1894. She studied Social Anthropology at the…
EventMuhammad Ali defeats Charles Liston in the World heavyweight title fight
On 25 February 1964, Cassius Marcellus Clay also known as Muhammad Ali, fought Charles "Sonny" Liston for the heavyweight title in Miami, Florida. Liston tried…
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…
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…
EventSA pledges support for a negotiated settlement in Rhodesia
The South African government under leadership of Prime Minister John Vorster pledged support for the United States of America's (USA) efforts to bring about a…
EventVan Riebeeck lands at the Cape
On 24 December 1651, accompanied by his wife and son, Jan van Riebeeck set off from Texel in The Netherlands for the Cape of Good Hope. Van Riebeeck had signed…
EventThe Dutch Reformed Church decides that Afrikaans may be used alongside Dutch during services
The Afrikaans language has its origins in Dutch. It developed amongst Dutch-speaking settlers and slaves in South Africa in the 17th century, and has many…
EventBambatha Rebellion
The Bambatha Rebellion took place near Greytown in KwaZulu-Natal. The first signs of discontent started at the end of 1905, when government introduced a new £1…
EventPolitical activist, Professor ZK Matthews is born
Zachariah Keodirelang Matthews, was born in Kimberley in 1901, the son of Peter Motsielwa and Martha Mooketsi Matthews, a Tswana mineworker who later opened a…
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…
EventMorgan Tsvangirai becomes Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe on 11 February 2009 as part of what was known as The Unity Government, in partnership with Robert…
EventNongqawuse’s unfulfilled prophecy
A period of hardship set in for the AmaXhosa after their defeat in the Eighth Frontier War (also called Eighth War of Dispossession). Their political…
18. Narayanan searches for his wife and child
From the book: A Documentary History of Indian South Africans edited by Surendra Bhana and Bridglal Pachai Narayanan, who worked for a Port Shepstone sugar…
44. Gandhi explains ‘satyagraha’
From the book: A Documentary History of Indian South Africans edited by Surendra Bhana and Bridglal Pachai M K. Gandhi introduced a new weapon in the…
PlaceDutch Reformed Church, Pretoria East
NG Kerk Pretoria Oos is next to Loftus Versfeld Stadium and is located in City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa. The Dutch Reformed…
PlaceThe AVA Gallery
The history of the AVA Gallery echoes the social, political and cultural changes that took place in South Africa. Previously known as the South African…
PlaceBerg River
The Great Berg river used to be navigable for a distance of about 45 km from its mouth and, during the 1880's, it was accessible to a variety of Schooners and…
PlaceSterkfontein Caves, Krugersdorp (within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site)
The caves are situated about 11km from Krugersdorp, on the Farm- 'Swartkrans'. They are believed to have been discovered in about 1896 or 1897, and were opened…
De Klerk pays tribute to Mandela’s ‘unique contribution’
Former president FW de Klerk says South Africa has lost one of its founding fathers and "greatest sons". Former president FW De Klerk said South Africa lost…
Document 90 - “Hertzog’s Native Bill Passed: Only 11 Oppose Reactionary Measure”, Umsebenzi, 1 1 April 1936
From: South Africa's Radical Tradition, a documentary history, Volume One 1907 - 1950, by Allison Drew Document 90 "Hertzog's Native Bill Passed: Only 11…
2002 ANC National Policy Conference: Closing Statement by Jacob Zuma, 30 September 2002
This National Policy Conference of the ANC, held over the four days of September 27th to 30th was attended by 687 delegates from ANC national, provincial,…
Chris Hani Memorial Lecture by Pallo Jordan, 15th April 2003, South Africa
South African Communist Party 2003 Chris Hani Memorial Lecture. 15th April 2003. Delivered: by Z. Pallo Jordan. 15th April 2003. Transcribed: by…
EventBirth of Paul Kruger
On 10 October 1825 Paul Kruger (Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger), son of Casper Kruger, was born in Whittlesea, Eastern Cape on his grandfather's farm. In…
EventIn Britain, Foreign Office Minister Lynda Chalker, meets Oliver Tambo, president of the ANC.
Oliver Tambo the then President of the African National Congress (ANC) was responsible for holding together the various anti-apartheid movements and was sent…
EventThe TEC decides on Bophuthatswana’s incorporation following major unrest
On 14 March, 1994, the Transitional Executive Council (TEC) management committee decided on a new administration for Bophuthatswana. The decision followed a…
EventUN Secretary General is killed in a plane crash
United Nations (UN) Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold was killed with twelve other people when their plane crashed at Ndola airport, Northern Rhodesia (now…
EventBruce Fordyce is born
Bruce Fordyce, legendary South African winner of the Comrades Marathon, was born in Hong Kong, then a city under English administration on the eastern side of…
EventFormer premier of Mpumalanga, Afrikaans poet and lawyer, Mathews Phosa is born
Nakedi Mathews Phosa, former premier of Mpumalanga (1994-1999), Afrikaans poet and lawyer was born in Mbombela Township in Nelspruit. Phosa was an African…
EventRuth First is assassinated in Mozambique
Ruth First, journalist, academic, anti-apartheid activist and member of the South African Communist Party, was brutally killed by a letter bomb in Maputo,…
EventThe S. A government seizes the passport of Bishop Desmond Tutu
Between 1976 and 1978 Desmond Tutu served as Bishop of the Anglican Church in Lesotho and as Secretary-General of the South African Council of Churches. On 16…