The History Of South Africa
The sea route between Europe and India through the Cape of Good Hope was dominated by the Portuguese in the 15th century. His
Bartolomé DÃaz undertook the initial exploration of a route through the Cape,
Who erected three stone crosses and pillars on the east coast of South Africa. The first cross was in Kwaaihoek,
Near the mouth of the Bushman River, and is the oldest monument in South Africa.
A replica of one of his three crosses is found in the Port Elizabeth market square.
Commemorating the rival of the first Europeans in Algoa Bay in 1488.
But it was Vasco Da Gama who really opened the sea route to India, and on his maiden voyage
Anchored in a natural harbor on Christmas Day 1497,
Naming it Rio de Natal - or Rio de Navidad - giving birth to the port of Durban, the busiest port on the African continent.
The Portuguese navies sailing between Europe and India
Ranged in size from small fleets of five to twenty ships,
Bringing spices and treasures from the east that found a ready market in Europe.
Once fully loaded, the wealth of these boats can be measured in the capture of the Portuguese carrack, the Madre de Deus,
By the English privateer Sir John Burroughs, who was worth half the English crown treasure.
Many of these ships and those that followed them for the next 500 years
Found their doom in these waters, because the Cape of Good
Hope, or Storm Cape as it is also known, has been the graveyard for more than 3,000 ships that have sunk or run aground.
The skeletal remains of some of these ships have left haunting reminders of the unpredictable nature and power of the sea.
The arrival of the first slave ships in
1658 bought another human element to the culture and with some arriving as castaways and others,
Replacing the more idle Indians who were not subjected to forced labor. The first inhabitants of South Africa
The Khoisan undoubtedly witnessed some of the boating activities off its coast,
They dedicated themselves to their activities as hunter-gatherers and herders.
The San occupied large areas of the country before the migrant Bantu people arrived south from central and eastern Africa.
Scattered groups of San Hoy
Inhabit the Kalahari desert and parts of Namibia where ancient culture, although slowly adapted to modern influences,
Still plays an active role in your daily life.
The Koi, as herdsmen, once inhabited large areas of the Cape and many of them married the newcomers,
Especially the Xhosa,
Which with its advanced agricultural and metallurgical technology soon became the dominant population in the Eastern Cape
Until the arrival of the Dutch in 1652.
Jan Van Rebieeck came to the Cape to set up a supply station for the ships of the Dutch East India Company.
Which traded extensively in the East.
The famous Cape Town fort is an impressive legacy from this period.
With the arrival of European settlers came the weapon and with it the hunters who decimated much of the wildlife, including the quagga.
The establishment of fenced farms in the Cape disrupted migratory routes for animals such as the gazelle and the black wildebeest
Forcing them and other species to migrate to other parts of southern Africa.
Fortunately, today, thanks to the efforts of
Conservationists wildlife is returning to the Cape, and many species that had been expelled or killed are once again
Wandering the plains.
The European settlement in the Eastern Cape brought with it a conflict between the newcomers and the local Xhosa people.
Heralding a period of great disturbance,
Bloodshed and shifting boundaries between the two factions and
Culminating in a war that would last a hundred years.
During this period, the British built many fortresses in this region, and although some are in ruins
Others have become popular tourist attractions.
The wars also left a legacy of names in the country's history books:
Sandile, Maqoma, Graham,
Somerset and Stockenstrom among others.
Some of the wars received their name from important incidents such as the seventh border war or better known as the Ax War.
The ongoing war gave rise to prophets, including Mlanjeni, for whom the eighth war is known,
Who predicted that the Xhosa would not be affected by the bullets of the colonialists.
Although his prophecy may have led to reckless acts of bravery in attacking the Xhosa Warriors,
Nongqawuse's 16-year prophecy nearly destroyed the entire Xhosa nation.
In 1856, he claimed to have received a message from his ancestors.
Promising liberation on the condition that the Xhosa kill all their livestock and destroy all their crops.
This would result in the settlers being thrown into the sea, the old men would be young again, and the Xhosa cattle would return in abundance.
Chief Sarhili took the initiative to carry out his request, as did thousands of his followers.
Causing widespread famine throughout the land.
Missionaries to the Eastern Cape, many of whom were sent by the London Missionary Society,
They were often caught up in the conflict between the British belligerents and the Xhosa.
His legacy, in addition to bringing Christianity to this part of the world,
It was also the establishment of places of learning for the local black community that later became respected schools,
Colleges and a university that educated many black leaders from southern African countries.
After the Napoleonic war and unemployment in Great Britain, Lord Charles Somerset:
Governor at the Cape - encouraged British settlement in the
Eastern Cape to boost the local English-speaking population and,
To consolidate the defense against neighboring Xhosa.
Some 4,000 British settlers arrived in 1820,
Many of whom were assigned farms in the Bathurst district, while others moved to surrounding towns, such as Port Elizabeth
East London and Grahams Town.
The end of the 19th century ended with more violence, this time between the British and the Boers,
Who managed to secure the independence of their republics, the Free State and the Transvaal,
After defeating the British at Majuba in 1881.
However, the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand and the failure of the Kruger president of the Transvaal to extend the franchise to the inhabitants of Uitlan -
Or foreigners who were mainly British immigrants attracted
To the gold digs - were factors that led to the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War in October 1899.
Although the first battle was at Talana Hill in kwazulu-Natal
The conflict soon spread to most of the country before ending with the defeat of the Boers in 1902.
The Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, and the country's external borders as defined then have remained to this day.
However, in reaction to the exclusion of equitable representation of blacks in Union government,
Prominent black leaders met in Bloemfontein two years later to form the Native National Congress of South Africa.
Its name changed in 1923 to what we now know as the African National Congress.
Two years later, World War I broke out, and
Thousands of South Africans served in German West and East Africa, as well as in
Several great European theaters of conflict such as Delville Wood.
In 1922, the newly formed South African Air Force had its first
Operational deployment to help quell the miners' strike at the Johannesburg gold mines that had turned violent, and
Ed to the declaration of martial law.
World War II in 1939, saw
Greater divide between English and Afrikaners, with many of the latter supporting the Nazis in
Organizations like Ossewabrandwag.
In this world, South Africans in conflict served with distinction in North Africa and Europe.
In an effort to find lasting world peace, the design and implementation of the League of Nations
After World War I it was largely the work of the world famous South African statesman, General Jan Smuts.
After World War II, Smuts was a signatory to the formation of the United Nations and wrote the preamble to its Charter.
He was the only person who signed both the League of Nations and the United Nations.
A major turning point in South African politics occurred in 1948,
When the Smuts government was defeated by the National Party under Dr.
Malan with his policy of apartheid that was to be an extremely divisive factor in the life of the black majority.
In 1950, South Africa responded to a request for United Nations support in the Korean War, and a combat squad was dispatched.
Sent to aid the UN effort.
Meanwhile, growing resistance to apartheid among black activists resulted in an anti-pass protest in Sharpeville in
1960 ends with the police opening fire on a defenseless crowd killing 69 protesters.
The convicted activists were imprisoned on Robben Island, as was Chief Maqoma some 100 years before them.
1960 also marked the year that South Africa became a republic and broke contact with the British Commonwealth.
A major turning point in South African history occurred in June 1976, when the youth of Soweto rose up in protest.
Against the imposition of
Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in black schools.
The unrest spread to municipalities throughout the country and was finally suppressed with force and the death of many protesters.
The 1980s were characterized by the border war in Angola, as well as increased unrest in the municipalities of South Africa.
The last decade of the century, however,
It started on a bright note with the removal of the ban from the ANC, the Communist Party of South Africa and the Pan-African Congress.
From then on, negotiations began between
The government and the liberation movement in Kempton Park.
Democracy finally dawned in South Africa in April
1994 with the first democratic elections and a government of national unity under President Nelson Mandela, which functioned until
1996 when the ANC became the only dominant party in Parliament.
Nelson Mandela, national and international icon,
Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize,
In addition to countless awards and honors, he is a living legend and his name is inscribed in world history.
Another famous South African,
Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
Called us the Rainbow Nation, and
Although the past is not forgotten, most of its people are working to build a strong national identity.
South Africa deservedly won the bid to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, and
Despite the enormous challenges in building new stadiums and essential infrastructure across the country, we achieved one of the most successful,
Memorable and exciting world cups ever organized.
South Africa is a nation to behold.
We have untold riches under the ground, while the rich cultural diversity and traditions of its people are unique in the world.
We have the potential to shine among the best in many spheres of life. For us, no challenge is too great!
We have shown that we can face any challenge,
Overcome any obstacle - our peaceful transition from oppression to freedom and democracy defied all odds -
Proving that we can do the impossible! And do it right!
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