Name. The name “South Africa” is derived from the country’s geographic location at the southern tip of Africa. Upon formation, the country was named the Union of South Africa in English and Unie van Zuid-Afrika in Dutch, reflecting its origin from the unification of four formerly separate British colonies.
What was South Africa called before 1652?
The South African Republic (Dutch: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek or ZAR, not to be confused with the much later Republic of South Africa), is often referred to as The Transvaal and sometimes as the Republic of Transvaal.
What was South Africa called before 1961?
The two European countries who occupied the land were the Netherlands (1652-1795 and 1803-1806) and Great Britain (1795-1803 and 1806-1961). Although South Africa became a Union with its own white people government in 1910, the country was still regarded as a colony of Britain till 1961.
Who came to South Africa first?
1480s – Portuguese navigator Bartholomeu Dias is the first European to travel round the southern tip of Africa. 1497 – Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama lands on Natal coast. 1652 – Jan van Riebeeck, representing the Dutch East India Company, founds the Cape Colony at Table Bay.
What is the name of South African?
South Africa’s country code, ZA, is an abbreviation of this former official name, Zuid-Afrika.
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List of official names of South Africa.
| Language | Long form | Short form |
|---|---|---|
| Afrikaans | Republiek van Suid-Afrika | Suid-Afrika |
| English | Republic of South Africa | South Africa |
Who is the first white person to arrive in South Africa?
The history of White settlement in South Africa started in 1652 with the settlement of the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) under Jan van Riebeeck.
Is South Africa Dutch or British?
Increased European encroachment ultimately led to the colonisation and occupation of South Africa by the Dutch. The Cape Colony remained under Dutch rule until 1795 before it fell to the British Crown, before reverting back to Dutch Rule in 1803 and again to British occupation in 1806.
Who ruled South Africa before Nelson Mandela?
F. W. de Klerk
| His Excellency F. W. de Klerk OMG DMS | |
|---|---|
| In office 15 August 1989 – 10 May 1994 | |
| Preceded by | P. W. Botha |
| Succeeded by | Nelson Mandela as President |
| 1st Deputy President of South Africa | |
Who ruled South Africa during apartheid?
Under the administration of the South African president F.W. de Klerk, legislation supporting apartheid was repealed in the early 1990s, and a new constitution—one that enfranchised blacks and other racial groups—was adopted in 1993.
When did slavery start in South Africa?
Dutch rule
The first slave, Abraham van Batavia arrived in 1653 (“van Batavia” meaning “from Batavia”, the name of Jakarta during the Dutch colonial period), and shortly afterward, a slaving voyage was undertaken from the Cape to Mauritius and Madagascar.
Where do Coloureds come from?
Coloureds (Afrikaans: Kleurlinge or Bruinmense, lit. “Brown people”) are a multiracial ethnic group native to Southern Africa who have ancestry from more than one of the various populations inhabiting the region, including Khoisan, Bantu, European, Austronesian, East Asian or South Asian.
When did Britain leave South Africa?
The British occupied the Cape in 1795, ending the Dutch East India Company’s role in the region. Although the British relinquished the colony to the Dutch in the Treaty of Amiens (1802), they reannexed it in 1806 after the start of the Napoleonic Wars.
How old is South Africa?
Independence: 31 May 1910 (from UK); South Africa became a republic in 1961. Geography: Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the African continent. Area: 1.2 million km² (470,462 sq.
Was South Africa a first world country?
No. There have been no First, Second or Third World countries since the end of the Cold War. … South Africa is a third world country – first world is the developed countries in north America and western Europe; the second world was the old Soviet block and China; and the third world is the rest.
Is South Africa a just society?
The Constitution of South Africa provides a foundation for human rights for all South Africans, a framework for a just and equitable society. … Civil society plays an integral role in holding the government accountable to its constitutional obligations.
What does za stand for South Africa?
Management. None of the official names for South Africa can be abbreviated to ZA, which is an abbreviation of the Dutch Zuid-Afrika.