Theme
Political Change
Events involving shifts in government, authority, sovereignty, and political order.
Initial theme stub generated from the nineteenth-century event dataset.
Events
7 May 1662Jan van Riebeeck leaves the Cape12 October 1679Simon van der Stel appointed Commander of the Cape14 December 1691Simon van der Stel becomes Governor of the Cape11 February 1699Willem Adriaan van der Stel succeeds his father1705–1707Burgher opposition to Willem Adriaan van der Stel intensifies28 February 1706Adam Tas is arrested1707Willem Adriaan van der Stel is recalled22 February 1707News arrives that the Lords Seventeen have ruled against Van der StelLate 1770s–early 1780sCape burgher political turmoil and “Cape Patriot” mobilisation1775Death of Phalo heightens Gcaleka–Rharhabe tensions1781–1783French-supported defence build-up transforms Cape fortificationsMay 1793H. C. D. Maynier becomes landdrost of Graaff-Reinet1795Graaff-Reinet burghers expel Maynier and revolt1795Swellendam declares itself independent of VOC authority11 June 1795British fleet arrives in False BayAugust 1795Early written Afrikaans appears in a Muizenberg poem7 August 1795Battle of Muizenberg16 September 1795Cape capitulates to Britain21 February 1803–8 January 1806Batavian Republic assumes control of the Cape1816Shaka becomes ruler of the Zulu1924Hertzog's National Party–Labour Pact government19481948 general election1966Assassination of Hendrik Verwoerd1975Inkatha movement established1985COSATU founded1985Rubicon speech and Botha reform impasse1989F. W. de Klerk becomes president11 February 1990Nelson Mandela released from prison1991–1992CODESA negotiations begin1993Assassination of Chris Hani2007–2008Polokwane conference and recall of Mbeki2009Jacob Zuma becomes president2010FIFA World Cup hosted in South Africa2013Death of Nelson Mandela2013Economic Freedom Fighters foundedc. 2016–2018State capture crisis intensifies2018Zuma resigns and Ramaphosa becomes president2020–2022COVID-19 pandemic and hard lockdown8–17 July 2021July unrest following Zuma's imprisonment2024ANC loses majority and Government of National Unity formed