Timelines
2,810 records
View the interactive timeline →The Government of National Unity and the making of the new Constitution
The Grey Street Mosque, 1880-1930
The Grey Street Mosque, 1880-1930 Indians began settling in Natal from 1860 when the first indentured workers arrived.1 They were…
The Group Areas Act of 1950
The National Party was elected in 1948 on the policy of Apartheid ('separateness'). This 'separateness' put South Africans of different…
The growth of trade unionism in Cape Town and the formation of early political organisations
The Heritage Museum at Villa Zain by Joline Young
“People who come here say how alive this place is. They say they actually feel the vibration of the rich history that fills these walls. I…
The historical significance of COSATU’s Workers’ Charter Campaign
Introduction During the late 1970s and early 1980s the issue of drawing up a Workers’ Charter became a leading item on the agenda of the…
The History of Al-Shabaab
Origins The organisation known as Al-Shabaab originally emerged from the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) movement in Somalia. The ICU began as…
The History of Christmas Day and its celebration in South Africa
Christmas Day, celebrated on December 25 in Catholic, Protestant, and most Orthodox churches, is a public holiday in South Africa. On this…
The History of Education: 1658 to present
± 1000 BCE (Pre-colonial) Late Stone Age people (San/Tsam//Xam) teach their children how to hunt and gather food, skin animals, prepare…
The history of labour movements in Namibia
Background During the 1930s and 1940s, there were few black workers organisations in Namibia (then known as South West Africa). However,…
The History of LGBT legislation
Introduction Discriminatory, separate and oppressive, these are words that were used to explain South Africa’s Apartheid regime, which…
The 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…
The history of Migrant Labour in South Africa
Introduction The migrant labour system marks a period in which African men were integrated into wage labour. Black men changed from…
The History of Separate Development in South Africa
Racial segregation and white supremacy had become central aspects of South African policy long before Apartheid started. The notorious 1913…
The Homelands
The Bantustans or homelands, established by the Apartheid Government, were areas to which the majority of the Blacks population was moved…