Between 1652 and 1834, slaves formed the backbone of the Cape economy. They were abducted from Africa, Madagascar, India, Ceylon, Malaysia, Burma and Java.
Between 1652 and 1808, approximately 63 000 persons of colour were relocated to the Cape as slaves. On 1 December 1834 slavery was abolished at the Cape.
In the 1770s Dutch-speaking farmers - the trekboers - migrated from the south-western Cape into the interior. Frontier wars against the Xhosa broke out in the east and lasted almost a century, until Xhosa power was broken. In 1834 frontier farmers rebelled against British rule at the Cape and migrated north in a 'Great Trek' to find ?a promised land?. 15 000 Voortrekkers left during the 1830s.
By the late 19th century the Xhosa people were forced to move from their lands. Defeated by colonial forces with their cattle diminished, many migrated to white farms and towns in search of work.
Timeline |
| 1795 |
First British occupation of South Africa
|
| 1803 |
Cape Colony reverts to Dutch rule |
1806
|
Britain re-occupies the Cape |
| 1834 |
Slavery abolished in South Africa |
| 1840s |
Merino sheep farming begins to transform colonial economy
|
| 1865 |
Ostriches first domesticated
|
| 1885 |
Cape to Kimberley railway line completed; reaches Johannesburg in 1894
|
| 1885 |
House of Parliament opened in Cape Town
|
| 1870s |
Afrikaner Nationalism gains root among Afrikaners at the Cape & interior in opposition to British Imperialism
|
| 1897 |
Enoch Sontonga composes Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika |
| 1899 |
South African War until 1902 |
| 1901 |
Ndabeni becomes first African township in Cape |
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