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EventRobert Koch announces the discovery of a rinderpest vaccine
On 10 February 1897, Robert Koch, a German bacteriologist, discovered a vaccine successful in the prevention of the animal disease, rinderpest. Robert Koch…
EventNqwiliso cedes land to Cape Government
Nqwiliso, tribal chief of Western Pondoland and eldest son of Ndamase, signed a treaty with H.G. Elliott in which he ceded sovereign rights and shipping in the…
EventThe Hewat Teacher Training College in Athlone is set alight in solidarity with the UWC students on a boycott
The Hewat Teacher Training College in Athlone was set alight in solidarity with the University of the Western Cape (UWC) students who convened a meeting on 2…
EventSouth Africa’s first democratic elections
Following a series of tense negotiations and years of liberation struggle, the first democratic election was held in South Africa on the 27th April, 1994. This…
PlaceWarriors Gate: MOTH Museum of Militaria
Warrior's Gate is situated at the Corner of Old Fort Road and Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, in Durban. In addition to its Headquarters function, Warriors Gate is…
PlaceNelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Eastern Cape
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality includes: 'Port Elizabeth now Gqeberha; Uitenhage; Despatch and Colchester'. Named after; Nelson Mandela, who is South Africa's…
The Rise of Women’s Trade Unionism in South Africa by Peter LaNasa
This article was written by Peter LaNasa and forms part of the SAHO and Southern Methodist University partnership project Abstract: This essay discusses…
Soweto and mounting pressure on the apartheid state, 1970s
The Day Our Kids Lost Faith. 1976. © Bailey's African History Archives During the 1970s, and particularly in the late 1970s after the Soweto uprising of 1976,…
ArticleThe African Students Association (ASA)
The African Students Association (ASA) was established on 17 December 1961 in Durban under the auspices of the banned African National Congress (ANC). At the…
ArticleThe Western Front
At the outbreak of the First World War, Germany put into operation the Schlieffen Plan. This plan was based on the assumption that in case of a war breaking…
ArticleNational symbols such as the Coat of Arms and the National Anthem
National Symbols since 1994In South Africa, we have a perse number of people and cultures, but we are all South African. National symbols such as a national…
The War
The flag of the Boer Republic of the Orange Free State On 9 October 1899 the SAR issued an ultimatum to Britain and two days later, on 11 October the war was…
EventMilton Obote (81), Uganda's former dictator, dies in a South African hospital
Obote, a member of the legislative council of Uganda from 1957, founded the Uganda People's Congress in 1960. Obote became Uganda's Prime Minister after…
ArticleUnion, Segregation, apartheid and Democracy: From Union to non racial democracy
The 1910 election: The Union of SA The first election that created the modern South African state, held in accordance with the provisions of the Union of…
ArticleSefako Mapogo Makgatho Timeline 1861-1961
1861 Sefako Mapogo Makgatho is born at Ga Mphahlele, Pietersburg district in Transvaal (now Limpopo province). 1870 The death of the King of the Baostho…
ArticleForced removals on Highveld and "black spots", 1912-1991
In the early 1960s the Apartheid government moved swiftly to dislodge numerous Black communities on the Transvaal Highveld occupying land in what was…
Insurrections I,II and III: Music as Ancient as the Future by Samuel Hove
Rumours had it that the Insurrections Ensemble was working on a piece loosely based on Aime Cesaire’s version of the Tempest for 2015. It has been hard to say…
ArticleThe History of May Day in South Africa
The struggle for a shorter workday, a demand of major political significance for the working class dates back to the 1800s. On 7 October 1884, the Federation…
PlaceKnysna, Garden Route- Western Province
The name Knysna has appeared in various spellings since about the 1770's. It was ‘Nysna’ in one of the earliest letters from James Callander (who built a home…
PlaceLimpopo Province
The Limpopo Province covers the Area that lies Northern most in South Africa, just South of Zimbabwe. It was first called the Northern Province, but this was…
ArticleGeneral South African History Timeline: 1910s
1910 Anti-Indian Legislation: The Public Servants Superannuating Act and Teachers Pensions Act. This furthers discrimination against Indians. Anti-Indian…
ArticlePolitical executions in South Africa by the apartheid government 1961 - 1989
On 9 June 1983, three members of the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), were executed at the gallows in Pretoria…
A new total strategy emerges July 1990 -June 1991
From: A Crime Against Humanity - Analysing the Repression of the Apartheid State edited by Max Coleman The unbanning of the liberation movements on 2 February…
The Mission: A Life for Freedom in South Africa by Denis Goldberg
Foreword by Dr Z. Pallo Jordan Preface Chapter 1 Break down the walls Chapter 2 Respect for all, Childhood in Cape Town, 1933 – 1949 Chapter 3…
EventThe Natal Legislature plans to introduce the Indian Franchise Bill
On 28 June 1894 the Natal Legislature planned to introduce the Indian Franchise Bill intended for disenfranchising Indians. On the previous day (27 June 1894)…
PlaceOld Railway Station Museum, Uitenhage
This is an engaging structure, with a high pitch roof, dormer windows and ornate fretted timber details. Built on Market Street in the year of the opening of…
PlaceRoodepoort Town School, Rex Street
The Roodepoort Town School was established in the 1890s and its premises, including a School Building and a Hall, were opened on 8 October 1913. In 1914 the…
PlaceOld Government Building, Church Street, Boksburg
The building was designed by Sytze Wierda, chief architect of the ZAR's Public Works Department. Its foundation stone was laid on 15 October 1890 and…
EventAndries Dreyer, church archivist and collector of Africana, dies
Andries Dreyer was born on 10 January 1872 in Philadelphia, in the present day Western Cape Province. After studying at the Normal College in Cape Town, be…
EventThe Table Mountain cableway, one of the biggest tourist attractions in Cape Town, is inaugurated
On 4 October 1929 the Table Mountain cableway, one of the world’s biggest tourist attractions in Cape Town, was inaugurated. The official ceremony was opened…