South Africa

Some 2000 years ago, Khoikhoi people who lived in the area of present day South Africa adopted a pastoralist lifestyle. That means they herded sheep and later, cattle. They lived in the pasturelands between modern-day Namibia and the Eastern Cape.

At around the same time, Bantu-speaking people began arriving in southern Africa, bringing with them an Iron Age culture and domesticated crops. 

Chiefdoms arose and metallurgical skills, developed in the mining and processing of iron, copper, tin and gold, promoted regional trade and craft specialisation.

The western desert or the winter-rainfall region in the south-west remained the preserve of the Khoisan until Europeans put down roots at the Cape of Good Hope.

Later, European colonists came to occupy the land and steal the livestock of different Bantu-speaking people. When the Xhosa people refused, a warfare begun. In the 1770s the Xhosa were defeated.

In 1795, the British occupied the Cape as a strategic base against the French, controlling the sea route to the East.

In the 1820s, Zulu leader Shaka, held sway over a vast area of south-east Africa. As splinter Zulu groups conquered and absorbed communities in their path, the region experienced a fundamental disruption. 

As the colony prospered, the political rights of the various races were guaranteed, with slavery being abolished in 1838. European influence spread eastwards from the port of Durban. Natal settlers pushed northwards, further and further into the land of the Zulu.

From the mid-1800s, the Voortrekkers coalesced in two land-locked white-ruled republics, the South African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State.

The  ANC Youth League was created to foster the leadership of people such as Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu.

Apartheid

In 1961 Apartheid was introduced. Apartheid was a racist political system which excluded Africans from ruling the country and separated white people and Black People and People of Colour (BPoC) in everyday life.

What Apartheid meant for BPoC:

BPoC were not allowed to be in groups of 5 or more people.

They were excluded from any career opportunities.

Afrikaans was declared the language of profession and learning. 10 African languages where thus excluded.

After 5pm, they needed a permit to be in town or  in a “white area”.

Their movement was restricted.

They were not allowed to socialise with white people or go to the same school.

By then, the ANC Youth League party was seen as a party threatening the segregation of the Afrikaans government. Many ANC members were killed or arrested, including Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, Cyril Ramaphosa – all of whom have later become Presidents of South Africa! 

The country was on fire, because there was a lot of protest and international pressure on the Afrikaans government.

In 1990, the Apartheid Government released all political prisoners.

In 1994 South Africa’s first democratic elections were held and Nelson Mandela was elected the country’s first black president. 

Mandela called for peace, truth and reconciliation. His aim was  to heal the country and create a space where white, black and People of Colour can live together as a Rainbow Nation.