The early history of South Africa begins with the San people who are beieved to
be the first to settle the area. They were followed by the Bantu-speaking peoples
who moved south into the region.
From Shaka Zulu to Nelson Mandela, South Africa has produced some of the best known
and arguably strongest leadership in African history. This though, did not prevent
it from being put through one of the world’s most extreme examples of racism and
lack of respect for humanity. Europeans came to South Africa in great numbers after
diamonds and gold were discovered there in 1897. They created Apartheid (racial
separation) which forced over 1.5 million Africans to live in townships in abject
poverty under repressive laws. In 1993, Apartheid was dismantled. In 1994, Mandela
won a landslide election and became president.
Today, South Africa is working to overcome poverty and its serious HIV-AIDS epidemic.
It’s Truth and Reconciliation Committee is also working to build a bridge between
those who committed human rights violations under Apartheid and their victims.