Special Appeal

Featured topics

Discover important themes, topics and events from South Africa's past with our picks

Slavery in South Africa main image
More features

This day in history

Find out who was born, who died and other significant events from this day in history

Tanzania gains independence
More Events

History in Pictures

Significant or interesting images from history. Each image will guide you to related content.

Fatima Daily News Image

Protest against detentions in front of Emmanuel Cathedral, Durban 1975.
From left to right: Bishop Hurley, Unknown, Fatima Meer and Mike Kirkwood

South African resistance fighters occupy train coaches reserved for whites in 1952.

South African resistance fighters occupy train coaches reserved for whites, during a demonstration in 1952.

Image Source:

© Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images

Manilal Gandhi

Manilal Gandhi (1892 - 1956), son of Mahatma Gandhi, addresses a gathering of 6,000 Transvaal Indians in South Africa, 20th July 1939. They are protesting the Asiatics (Transvaal Land and Trading) Bill.

Image Source:

© Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

ANC supporters pray in front of the Johannesburg courthouse on Dec. 28, 1956

ANC supporters pray in front of the Johannesburg courthouse on Dec. 28, 1956, to support 156 anti-apartheid militants, among them Nelson Mandela, during their trial.

Image Source:

© AFP/Getty Images

Lij Iyasu and Ras Teferi, the later Emperor Haile-Sellassie (circa 1912/13)

Lij Iyasu and Ras Teferi, the later Emperor Haile-Sellassie (circa 1912/13)

Image Source:

Image provided by Misganaw Tadesse

Diamond Fields Advertiser Newspape

Diamond Fields Advertiser Newspaper (DFA) (Kimberley, February 17, 1900)

South African resistance fighters occupy train coaches reserved for whites in 1952.

South African resistance fighters occupy train coaches reserved for whites, during a demonstration in 1952.

Image Source:

© Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images

Manilal Gandhi

Manilal Gandhi (1892 - 1956), son of Mahatma Gandhi, addresses a gathering of 6,000 Transvaal Indians in South Africa, 20th July 1939. They are protesting the Asiatics (Transvaal Land and Trading) Bill.

Image Source:

© Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

ANC supporters pray in front of the Johannesburg courthouse on Dec. 28, 1956

ANC supporters pray in front of the Johannesburg courthouse on Dec. 28, 1956, to support 156 anti-apartheid militants, among them Nelson Mandela, during their trial.

Image Source:

© AFP/Getty Images

Lij Iyasu and Ras Teferi, the later Emperor Haile-Sellassie (circa 1912/13)

Lij Iyasu and Ras Teferi, the later Emperor Haile-Sellassie (circa 1912/13)

Image Source:

Image provided by Misganaw Tadesse

Diamond Fields Advertiser Newspape

Diamond Fields Advertiser Newspaper (DFA) (Kimberley, February 17, 1900)

Fatima Daily News Image

Protest against detentions in front of Emmanuel Cathedral, Durban 1975.
From left to right: Bishop Hurley, Unknown, Fatima Meer and Mike Kirkwood

Upcoming Event

Click on the image below to find out more about the upcoming event.

Society and Politics

Topics, timelines and articles that cover the social and political history of South Africa from prehistory to the present day

Latest articles

MK logo

uMkhonto weSizwe (MK)

End Conscription Campaign (ECC)

Staffrider magazine (1978-1993)

browse by topic

Africa
Early History
People of South Africa
South Africa 1400 - 1652
South Africa 1652 - 1806
South Africa 1806 -1899
20th Century South Africa
Contemporary South Africa
Social histories
Organisations

#FeesMustFall - Student Movements

Art and Culture

Topics, timelines and articles that cover the history of South African art, music, theatre, sports, heritage and media

Latest articles

The Cordoned Heart

Staffrider magazine (1978-1993)

The Daily Dispatch

browse by topic

Arts and Culture Classroom
Cultural Heritage & Religion
Literature
Media and Journalism
Performing Arts
Sport
Visual Arts and Architecture

Biographies

Lives and stories of notable South Africans and people closely related to our history

Featured biographies

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

Enuga Sreenivasulu Reddy

Keorapetse William Kgositsile

browse by topic

LGBTQI+
Arts & Humanities
Community
Feature biographies
Lives of courage
Office Bearers
Politics & Labour
Science
Sport
Women

Africa

Explore the histories of other African countries organised by region.

North Africa

East Africa

Southern Africa

Central Africa

West Africa

Featured from Africa

Flag of Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea

Flag of Gabon

Gabon

Flag of Cameroon

Cameroon

Classroom

Topics and articles for school learners and teachers. These sections are based on the current curriculum

Places

Search for the history of your city, town, suburb or village. You can also search for places of interest, monuments and centres or browse an alphabetical list

Featured Places

a Giraffe By One of The Water-Pans in Borakalalo National park

Borakalalo National Park

image Lions

Kruger National Park

https://www.pilanesbergnationalpark.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PNPSafari-400x280.jpg

Pilanesberg Game Reserve

Timelines

Timelines show an overview of events and how they fit into the bigger picture. We have general timelines and timelines on specific topics

pre 1500
1500s
1600s
1700s
1800s
2000s

Featured Timelines

Timeline of the 1973 Durban Strikes

Yusuf Dadoo Timeline

A history of Indians in South Africa Timeline: 1654-2008

browse by topic

Arts and Culture
Life timelines
1900s
Organisations
Politics and Society
Places and Communities
South African history timeline
World and African history