I asked Fi to tell me about the history of South Africa, but she said "you know, for such a 'New' country, South Africa has a LOT of history...in fact, some of the OLDEST history in the world! We'll have to do some research, I can't remember it all!"
So, off we went to the Library. The staff were most obliging, allowing us to take photos (I won them over with my charm and astounding intellect)
Oh, there were more books on the subject than we thought there would be...long lengthy tomes....hoo boy, which one to choose?
We went with the most up to date one!
Right, in the beginning... The earliest fossil evidence of our ancestors (pre-human) has been found in an area known as The cradle of Humankind. In a nutshell, that means that this is where humans first started.
There was simply too much to read! So.... we cheated a little and found this on line (we'll intersperse it with our corresponding photos)
A short history of South Africa
People inhabited present-day South Africa for thousands of years. Khoisan groups are the oldest surviving inhabitants of the land, but only a few are left in South Africa today.
Bantu tribes migrate south from central Africa, settling in the Transvaal region sometime before 100. The Nguni, ancestors of the Zulu and Xhosa, occupy most of the eastern coast around 1500. In 1497/98 Vasco da Gama discovers the Cape of Good Hope.
From 1652 the Netherlands, the Dutch East India Company, establish the Cape Colony. In subsequent decades, French Huguenot refugees, Dutch and Germans settle in the Cape. By 1779 European settlements extend throughout the southern part of the Cape and east toward the Great Fish River. There the Dutch and the Xhosa fight the first frontier war. Due to the French occupation of the Netherlands, Britain occupies the Cape Colony in 1795 and establishes it as a British colony in 1797. Dutch rule is restored in 1803, but in 1806 Britain annexes the colony again. The Cape Colony becomes a British colony and a basis to obtain more possessions in southern Africa. Dutch settlers leave the Cape Colony in what is called the "Great Trek" and move inland to found New Holland in 1837 (named Natalia in 1838), the Holland-African Republic in 1852 (named South-African Republic in 1853) and the Orange Free State in 1854.
In 1843 Britain annexes Natalia and establishes the colony of Natal. During the 19th century Britain introduces elected assemblies and grants africans and coloured who met certain franchise requirements the right to vote. The discovery of diamonds in 1867 leads at the British conquest of the South-African Republic in 1887 as the colony of Transvaal. Independence is restored in 1884. As a result of the Boer Wars between 1899 and 1902 both the Orange Free State and the South-African Republic finally lose their independence.
The Orange Free State becomes the Orange River Colony in 1901. The South African Republic becomes the colony of Transvaal in 1902. The Cape Colony merges with Natal, the Orange River Colont and Transvaal into the Dominion called Union of South Africa, a self-governing dominion of the British Empire, in 1910. South Africa becomes a parliamentary state, but the suffrage is limited to whites. Louis Botha of the South Africa Party (SAP) becomes the first prime minister. In 1912 the South Africa Native National Congress is founded and eventually becomes known as the African National Congress (ANC). Its goals are the elimination of restrictions based on colour and the enfranchisement of and parliamentary representation for blacks. Botha is succeeded in 1919 by Jan Christian Smuts. In 1924 the National Party (NP) wins the elections, bring James Barry Munnik Hertzog to the premiership. In 1931 South Africa becomes fully independent. In 1939 the SAP takes over and Smits becomes prime minister again.
Since 1948 South Africa is ruled by the NP and Apartheid, the complete segregation between whites and blacks, becomes the official policy of the state.
Under Prime ministers Daniel François Malan (1948-1954), Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom (1954-1958), Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd (1958-1966) and Balthazar Johannes Vorster (1966-1978) the apartheid policy develops. After a referendum in 1960 Verwoerd's government establishes the republic, named Republic of South Africa. In the early sixties ANC-leader Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and many other anti-apartheid leaders are convicted and imprisoned on charges of treason. The ANC is forced underground and fights apartheid through guerrilla warfare and sabotage. In 1976/1988 South Africa establishes the so-called independent republics of Transkei, Ciskei, Bophutatswana and Venda. In 1978 Pieter Willem Botha becomes prime minister. Since 1984 South Africa is a presidential republic and Botha becomes president. In parliament the liberal Progressive Federal Party (PFP) of Helen Suzman forms the opposition against apartheid.
Botha is succeeded in 1989 by Frederik Willem de Klerk. In 1990 De Klerk announces the unbanning of the ANC and other anti-apartheid groups. Mandela is released from prison. In 1991 the last apartheid acts are abolished and a long series of negotiations leads in 1993 to a new constitution. South Africa becomes a non-racial parliamentary democratic state. Transkei, Ciskei, Bophutatswana and Venda are re-incorporated into the country. The elections of 1994 are won by the African National Congress (ANC) and Nelson Mandela becomes president. Mandela concentrates on national reconciliation, tries to forge a single South African identity and sense of purpose among a diverse and splintered populace, driven by years of conflict.
In 1999 Mandela steps down and Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is elected president. The main opposition party is the liberal democratic Democratic Alliance (DA, successor of the PFP), the former apartheid party New National Party (NNP) and the Zulu party Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
Phew, that was REALLY BRIEF... but that was the basics.
If you look at this next photo, you can see all of the flags that South Africa has had in its history.
Closest to me is the Dutch East India Company flag from 1679;
next the British flag (before the incorporation of Ireland); the Batavian flag; the Union Jack; The South African Union flag and lastly the present day flag of the democratic South Africa (first flown on 10 May 1994)
Here is a closer look at the present flag. Fi tells me that before it was first unveiled, there was an uproar by the Afrikaaner nation at the loss of the old orange, white and blue flag. But since the new flag was so pleasant to look at that it was soon embraced and waved proudly at sports matches!
The previous National anthem was in Afrikaans with an English version that followed. The first stanza of the new anthem is sung in Xhosa or Zulu, the second in Sotho. The next stanza is the first part of the Afrikaans anthem (Die Stem) and the last stanza is the English version.
These are the National symbols:
And there you have it - a (very) short history of South Africa!
