Country profile

The outside world came to what is today called South Africa when Dutch traders landed in 1652. They established the southern tip as a stopover point on the spice route between Europe and the East, and the city of Cape Town was born.

The Cape of Good Hope was conquered by the British in 1806, whereupon many Dutch settlers (the Boers) headed north and formed their own republics. Diamonds and gold were discovered in the 1860s, leading to more immigration and the repression of Africa’s native inhabitants.

British expansion resulted in the Boer War (1899-1902); the British won, but the two sides ruled together under the banner of the Union of South Africa.

The National Party was voted into power in 1948, and apartheid was developed – the separate development of races. This system ended in 1994 when multi-racial elections were held, ushering in Nelson Mandela as president and black majority rule.

Freedom Day
April 27 commemorates the day when, in 1994, the first post-apartheid elections were held in South Africa. Under the apartheid regime, widespread oppression by the authorities meant that non-whites only had limited rights and movement within the country, as well as restricted voting. Freedom Day marks the first non-racial national elections, where everyone of voting age (over 18) from any race group was allowed to vote. Since then it has been celebrated as both Freedom Day and National Day.

Details

South African Social Community
Various venues (493 3806), welgemoeds@qatar.net.qa, www.southafricansinqatar.netfirms.com.