The "Cliff Notes" Version of South African Histrory

Much of what the team experiences and the people we meet are best understood with a knowledge of history of this great land. The team members are each staying with host Rotarian families. Upon completion of group activities, we go our separate ways and live as honored guests! (Or in Mark's case, as "Honored Chef". Last night he cooked dinner for his hosts Jaap and Kim Styne on their farm outside of Viljoenstroon.) This aspect of the Rotary Group Study Exchange provides invaluable insight as we learn first hand of the history and lives of the families with which we stay.

The original people of South Africa were the San or bushmen. They lived primarily in the western part of the country. As time went on, other tribes from the north moved south in what is now known as South Africa. Most notable of these were the Zulu in the east and Xhosa in the southeast. (Thanks, Jaap!)

The location of South Africa at the most southern tip of the continent, the Cape of Good Hope, made it a natural stopover as traders navigated the trade route to India. By the 1650s the Dutch established settlements. To ease labor shortages, the Dutch brought slaves to this continent from Indonesia and India. The descendents of these people, intermarrying with Europeans, now constitute part of what was considered “colored”; at least in the western part of the country.

In the late 1700’s, as the Dutch East India Company’s influence waned, Great Britain seized the Cape of Good Hope area. As a result, the Dutch settlers began a movement northward and to the east. These people became known as the Boers, or more literally, "farmers". The movement to the northeast, known as the Voortrek, or "First Trek", is a monumental event in Afrikaner history. The Afrikaners fought with the Zulus during this time. Each culture shares poignant stories of specific battles and honors those who died.

However, there is much land in what is now the central and northeast part of South Africa was uninhabited until settled by the Boers. This is important to note as the current government has endorsed a program of allowing blacks to reclaim land, now owned by whites, that may have been once occupied by black families. Compensation is paid by the government, as compared to the outright expulsion of white farmers in Zimbabwe by alleged war veterns or "worvets".

The discovery of diamonds and gold in the 1860s accelerated British migration to the Boer areas. This resulted in the first Anglo-Boer War in 1880-1881 in which the Boers using guerrilla or commando tactics repelled the red-coated armies. Nevertheless, the Second Anglo-Boer War 1899 – 1902, was decisive as the British defeated the outnumbered Boers.

The British established camps of Boer women and children, gathered up as the commandos were away from the farms fighting. These camps became known as “concentration camps”. Hundreds of Boer women and children died and there is a monument to these people in Potchefstroom and Klerksdrop, sites of these camps. The existence of these camps contributed to ethnic hatred of the British by the Afrikaners well into the 20th century.

The Union of South Africa was formed in the early 20th century. Farming, ranching and mining established the wealth of the area.

Political and European ethnic allegiances brought out by World War II caused a split among the whites. As the Afrikaners were of Dutch, French and German decent, some held beliefs that South Africa should not join the war on the side of the Allies. The country did send troops to fight, however they were volunteers. This is notable as, the political split resulted in the ultra-conservative, religious based (Dutch Reformed Church) National Party to come to power in 1948. This political party consisted primarily of Afrikaners, as opposed to the more liberal parties made up of English, Indians and mixed-race coloreds.

While segregation of the races was always a part of life here, the National Party instituted a series of laws during the 1950s and 60s which were progressively more restrictive and harsh. The term “Apartheid” refers to these laws and translates, “apartness”.

The laws prohibiting party and union affiliation, voting, restricting jobs and education were put in place. The National Party continued repression with a continuing series of repressive laws including pass book requirements - a form of ID - and laws requiring blacks to move to “homelands” or Bantustans; our version of Indian reservations. It was the National Party’s law that required all school instruction to be in Afrikaans that many consider the spark which instigated the student marches in the early 60s resulting in police killings of children. These events gave strength to the African National Congress (ANC), the party of Nelson Mandela.

Strikes, marches and sabotage increased and the suppression of news in the early 1960s caused some of our hosts to be generally unaware of the extent of the cruelty and unrest in various parts of the country.

Many leaders of the outlawed ANC were killed or imprisoned during this time. Nelson Mandela, the most notable of the party's leaders, was convicted of sabotage and was imprisoned in 1963.

In 1990, after years of struggle by blacks in this country and world wide political and economic sanctions, the National Party, under the leadership of DeKlerk, began "negotiating itself out of power." The ban against the ANC was lifted and Nelson Mandela and others freed. Aprtheid legislation was gradually repealed. In 1994 the first multi-racial elections were held.

Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner of 27 years was elected president. President Mandela, along with Bishop Desmond Tutu and former president F.W. DeKlerk and others established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This unprecedented act allowed anyone who had committeed racially based crimes, even murder in many cases, to be granted amnesty by the government in exchange for admitting their crimes. Compensation was paid to victims or their survivors.

This act of confession and forgiveness, has enabled a country of some 47 million people - approximately 5 million white, 1.5 million Indian and Asian - to begin a process of healing.

F.W. DeKlerk and Nelson Mandela were awared the Nobel Prize for Peace because of their efforts to reunite the people of the Republic of South Africa.

South Afirca and its people are stealing our hearts.