Editor: Dr Saul Issroff
Copyright © 1999 Saul Issroff, Mike Getz, SAfrica SIG
and Jewishgen Inc.
This page URL: http://www.jewishgen.org/SAfrica/histdates.htm
Revised: 20 December 1999
 

Dutch rule from 1652 to 1795.
 
British from 1795-1803.
 
Batavian Republic: Between 1803 and 1806.
 
The British again ruled the Cape from 1806.
 
In 1836, a group of earlier Dutch settler families started migrating into the interior of the country, the Great Trek which led to the formation of the two Boer republics, the Orange Free State and the Transvaal.
 
The diamond fields in Kimberley were discovered in 1869.
 
The gold fields in the Transvaal in 1886.
 
These two discoveries brought an influx of fortune seekers. After a rebellion culminating in the Anglo Boer War (1899-1902) there were four self-governing colonies until the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910. In 1961 when SA left the Commonwealth it became a Republic. Today, South Africa is again a member of the Commonwealth.There are now 9 provinces: Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, North West, Kwazulu/Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Northern Transvaal.