Before the Europeans arrived in South Africa, the first inhabitants were the Khoisan, i.e., the Khoikhoi and the San. The Khoikhoi, formerly Hottentots, were skilled pastoralists who kept large herds of cattle. While the San, also known as Bushmen, were hunters and gatherers. The Khoisan were naturally bright as they knew the various forms of traditional herbs and for what purposes they served. Let us look at the History of South Africa during European rule.
In 1647, the Dutch arrived in South Africa. Their ship had wrecked, so they built a small fort in the Cape of Good Hope, where they stayed for a year. W.G de Jong and his fleet of ships rescued these Dutch explorers later. Jan van Riebeeck’s ship was among those ships. Upon returning to Holland, the Dutch explorers persuaded the Dutch East India Company to start a trading center at the Cape of Good Hope, present name Cape Verde. Therefore, in 1652, Dutch explorers under Jan van Riebeeck established the first permanent settlements near the Cape. They had named the bay the Cape Table Bay. Jan Van had also built a docking area for ships arriving at the Cape.
The Boer War in South Africa
The Boers, who were the Afrikaners, were the original Dutch settlers. The war between the Boers of Transvaal and Orange free state and British began when Britain tried to take Boer’s colony. In 1806, the British took control of the Cape from the Boers that resented British rule. They were so used to having their freedom and thus were not ready to abide by Britain’s policies. Therefore, in 1867, they embarked on a tedious and long journey and crossed over past the Drakensberg mountains. They then founded the Transvaal and Orange Free State after settling in the Transvaal and near the Orange River.
However, in 1867, the discovery of diamonds and golds in the regions stimulated conflict between Boer and British. In 1890, Britain and Boer started fighting. In 1900, Britain had captured most of the Boer territories. Meanwhile, Boer soldiers and families had formed a resistance known as the guerrilla war. However, Britain had crushed the resistance, hence having full power over the territory.
What preceded the events was a treaty that granted the Britain administration power over the Transvaal and Orange Free State. In 1910, the British founded a Union of South Africa that included Transvaal, Orange free state, Cape of Good Hope, and Natal provinces.
Apartheid Rule
Apartheid was a system of legislation in South Africa during the era of the white nationalist south African union. It was a system of racial segregation that worked in favor of the whites in South Africa. Under apartheid, the whites forced black South African inhabitants to live in separate areas from them. They were to use different public facilities from the whites. The apartheid laws served the country for about 50 years. The white communities had the best services, enjoying all the advantages to themselves. The blacks attempted to resent the rule to no success.
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Nelson Mandela Fights for Freedom
In 1991, the government of Nelson Mandela, a human rights activist, started endorsing campaigns against apartheid. The endless campaigns landed him in prison, where he underwent torture days and nights. He has a global reputation as the first black African president who dedicated his life to fight racism.
Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 on 18th July in South Africa, formerly a British dominated state. Though most of the occupants were blacks, the white minority who had power over their wealth, land, and government-controlled them. At the time of apartheid, South African didn’t have the right to vote. They were powerless against the rule. However, the release of Mandela from prison in 1990 marked a turn of events.
Mandela united the south Africans and urged them to stay strong. He then appealed to the then president, Willem de Klerk. Mandela and his colleagues had formed the National African Congress movement, which condemned the racial rule.
In 1994, South African held elections that marked the end of apartheid rule. 62% of the people had voted against the rule. Though it’s something that had lasted for years, it ended peacefully. Mandela and de Klerk had earned a Nobel peace prize.
