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A Short History of South Africa
A brief, general account of the history of South Africa that uncovers the first evidence of hominid existence to the wars of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that led to the establishment of modern South Africa, the horrors of Apartheid, and the optimism following its collapse, as well as the prospects and challenges for the future. This readable and thorough account, illustrated with maps and photographs, is the culmination of a lifetime of researching and teaching the broad spectrum of South African history.
302 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
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October 3, 2018
A Short History of South Africa, by Gail Nattrass, is an interesting and contemporary history of South Africa. This book is concise, well written, and covers interesting topics, from Apartheid and Black Consciousness, to colonialism and social justice. The book covers a wide range of history, beginning with South Africa as a potential cradle in the incubation of the human species. Many of our early ancestors were found in South Africa or nearby, and it seems this could have been the origin point for early humans. Migrations by the Tsan and KhoiKhoi peoples into the region saw the beginnings of proto-civilization in the area. The KhoiKhoi even built an early state of sorts straddling the border between modern Limpopo province, and neighbouring Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Other peoples soon began to migrate into the region, or left and came back, including the Sotho, Zulu, and Xhosa, to name a few. Early history from this time is sparse, as many of these peoples left very few writings to indicate their history, society or culture. Scant evidence is found in the form of art, artifacts and archaeology.
Recorded history in South Africa begins with European contact with the region. The Portuguese rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, but the region had seen contact and trade with Islamic and Asian peoples previously, with the Natal region acting as a key trading hub between Indian Ocean civilizations. The Portuguese began to exploit these trading nodes, and created small forts and fueling stations in South Africa, but largely avoiding permanent settlements. The Dutch came next, and began permanent settlement in the Cape region. Dutch settlement was encouraged, although little direction came from a central body in the Netherlands, and settlers were largely left to themselves, establishing farmsteads and interacting with established African communities, sometimes in a friendly manner, and sometimes through hostilities. The Dutch settlers in the region developed their own language, mixing words from other communities with Dutch, and began to form a more independent community. When the British displaced the Dutch in South Africa in the 17th century, they sought to Anglicize the Boer communities, and encouraged the use of English, and the settlement of the Cape by English settlers. This led to mass migrations north by Boer communities, who eventually formed their own nation states: Transvaal and the Orange Free State.
These two states became part of the international community, but when gold was discovered, the British began to covet these regions. British Imperialist ambitions sought to unite the South African region into a homogeneous colony. Tensions between the Boer Republics and other African communities were exploited. The British also targeted Xhosa, Zulu and other kingdoms and tried to exploit growing tensions in the region to their advantage. They also united with Cape Boers, and allowed the forcible settlement of previously African territory by Boer settlers in exchange for political cooperation with British authorities. The powerful Zulu and Xhosa kingdoms were brought to their knees through a long protracted war, where the British often came out as the losers. Even so, persistence, more guns, and exploitation of internal divisions allowed the British to eventually dominate the region.
The two Boer Republics were also eventually annexed through diplomatic means, however, Boer politicians began to sour on this relationship due to the British Anglicization policies. Two rebellions were launched, eventually culminating in the massive Boer War (1899-1902), in which many thousands of British troops eventually ended up in South Africa. Brutal tactics like the erection of concentration camps, the burning of Boer farmsteads, and extrajudicial executions, were used. Many thousands of civilians were caught in the crossfire and died of starvation and disease. It was the most costly war for the British Empire up until WWI.
The British eventually won the war, and relations between the Boer and English in South Africa remained tense, but improved through the introduction of autonomy in South Africa. The British coveted a confederated state in South Africa modeled after Canada. It would be autonomous and self governing, and this would ease the burden of ruling over such a large and multi-ethnic state. The English and Boer residents in South Africa united and formed the Union Party, which was the dominant party in South Africa until 1948. This party saw South Africa support Britain through two world wars. It also saw the beginnings of white supremacist policies in South Africa. Politicians kept black South Africans out of politics, and often implemented segregationist style politics into force. This era also saw the rise of a more radical Boer nationalism, and the eventual creation of the Afrikaans National Party, among others. Black conciseness was also on the rise, and the beginnings of the African National Congress (ANC), came into being in the early 20th century. Other groups, like Indian and Chinese South Africans, also formed groups committed to furthering their own interests.
The Afrikaans National Party eventually came to power in 1948, and began to usher in Apartheid policies. Black peoples were forcibly removed from much of the country, and settled in homelands designated to particular ethnic groups. These homelands were eventually to form independent nations, but the vast majority of the country, and all of its key agricultural and economic resources, were set aside for white use only. These homelands were brutal places, and neglected by the South African government. White supremacists saw no need to encourage black education, and neglected infrastructure investment as well. Black South Africans were required to carry passes, and were unable to leave their settlements without checking in with authorities. Much of society was segregated, and interracial marriages were forbidden. These regressive policies spawned a more radical movement within the new ANC, and members of the radical Youth League sought to end Apartheid through a campaign of struggle, which included protests, sit ins and violence.
The ANC began to act in South Africa, and utilized neighbouring states like Lesotho, Mozambique and Angola to train in guerrilla warfare . The South African authorities countered by engaging these states and actors in conflict or sabotage and assassination. Arbitrary arrests and detentions were common, and with politicians like Nelson Mandela jailed for life. Cold War conflicts were initiated against Angola and Mozambique, and Namibia (occupied since its annexation from Germany in WWI) was occupied and militarized. The South African government used death squads, parcel bombs and sophisticated poisons and application mechanisms to off opponents in the ANC, and the more radical PAC, as well as targets in the South African communist party.
This regime began to crumble in the 1980's due to pressure from the ANC, as well as external sanctions from Western Countries. South Africa lost their wars in the region, and Namibia was eventually granted independence. This culminated in the final victory: the end of Apartheid and the election of an ANC government under Nelson Mandela in the 1990's. A reversal of Apartheid era policies was underway. This was an era of hope, reconciliation, and growth for South Africa. It joined the BRICS economies - a grouping of growing middle income nations dedicated to achieving high income status. Apartheid tensions largely dispersed, as a spirit of reconciliation was initiated, forgiving past racial transgressions, and encouraging peoples to work together to build South Africa into a true rainbow nation.
The book ends with South Africa's current prospects. Although South Africa remains a stable and relatively wealthy nation in Africa, it is seeing the erosion of the hope and spirit of the 1990's and early 2000's. The ANC has matured, and is potentially eclipsing as South Africa's decades long ruling party. The recent ousting of Jacob Zuma, South Africa's precious and largely corrupt President, has seen the ANC shaking. Education, crime and poverty remain key issues, and South Africa suffers from extremely high inequality levels. South Africa's currency, the rand, has also taken a hit in recent years, being downgraded to junk status, and ushering in an era of economic uncertainty. Couple this with South Africa's growing political tensions, and the future is looking less hopeful than before. However, South Africa remains a dynamic force in the region. It is poised to take advantage of the growing presence of Africa in the world, as countries seek to invest in the region. It also remains a diverse nation, with 11 official languages, as well as an abundance of wonderful natural spaces and resources.
Natrrrass has written a concise and interesting history of South Africa. This is a wonderful overview of South African history, and is one of the few contemporary histories of the nation available (at least in my area). I can easily recommend this book for those looking for a good history of this nation, or those looking for a brief refresher on the subject updated to current years.
Recorded history in South Africa begins with European contact with the region. The Portuguese rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, but the region had seen contact and trade with Islamic and Asian peoples previously, with the Natal region acting as a key trading hub between Indian Ocean civilizations. The Portuguese began to exploit these trading nodes, and created small forts and fueling stations in South Africa, but largely avoiding permanent settlements. The Dutch came next, and began permanent settlement in the Cape region. Dutch settlement was encouraged, although little direction came from a central body in the Netherlands, and settlers were largely left to themselves, establishing farmsteads and interacting with established African communities, sometimes in a friendly manner, and sometimes through hostilities. The Dutch settlers in the region developed their own language, mixing words from other communities with Dutch, and began to form a more independent community. When the British displaced the Dutch in South Africa in the 17th century, they sought to Anglicize the Boer communities, and encouraged the use of English, and the settlement of the Cape by English settlers. This led to mass migrations north by Boer communities, who eventually formed their own nation states: Transvaal and the Orange Free State.
These two states became part of the international community, but when gold was discovered, the British began to covet these regions. British Imperialist ambitions sought to unite the South African region into a homogeneous colony. Tensions between the Boer Republics and other African communities were exploited. The British also targeted Xhosa, Zulu and other kingdoms and tried to exploit growing tensions in the region to their advantage. They also united with Cape Boers, and allowed the forcible settlement of previously African territory by Boer settlers in exchange for political cooperation with British authorities. The powerful Zulu and Xhosa kingdoms were brought to their knees through a long protracted war, where the British often came out as the losers. Even so, persistence, more guns, and exploitation of internal divisions allowed the British to eventually dominate the region.
The two Boer Republics were also eventually annexed through diplomatic means, however, Boer politicians began to sour on this relationship due to the British Anglicization policies. Two rebellions were launched, eventually culminating in the massive Boer War (1899-1902), in which many thousands of British troops eventually ended up in South Africa. Brutal tactics like the erection of concentration camps, the burning of Boer farmsteads, and extrajudicial executions, were used. Many thousands of civilians were caught in the crossfire and died of starvation and disease. It was the most costly war for the British Empire up until WWI.
The British eventually won the war, and relations between the Boer and English in South Africa remained tense, but improved through the introduction of autonomy in South Africa. The British coveted a confederated state in South Africa modeled after Canada. It would be autonomous and self governing, and this would ease the burden of ruling over such a large and multi-ethnic state. The English and Boer residents in South Africa united and formed the Union Party, which was the dominant party in South Africa until 1948. This party saw South Africa support Britain through two world wars. It also saw the beginnings of white supremacist policies in South Africa. Politicians kept black South Africans out of politics, and often implemented segregationist style politics into force. This era also saw the rise of a more radical Boer nationalism, and the eventual creation of the Afrikaans National Party, among others. Black conciseness was also on the rise, and the beginnings of the African National Congress (ANC), came into being in the early 20th century. Other groups, like Indian and Chinese South Africans, also formed groups committed to furthering their own interests.
The Afrikaans National Party eventually came to power in 1948, and began to usher in Apartheid policies. Black peoples were forcibly removed from much of the country, and settled in homelands designated to particular ethnic groups. These homelands were eventually to form independent nations, but the vast majority of the country, and all of its key agricultural and economic resources, were set aside for white use only. These homelands were brutal places, and neglected by the South African government. White supremacists saw no need to encourage black education, and neglected infrastructure investment as well. Black South Africans were required to carry passes, and were unable to leave their settlements without checking in with authorities. Much of society was segregated, and interracial marriages were forbidden. These regressive policies spawned a more radical movement within the new ANC, and members of the radical Youth League sought to end Apartheid through a campaign of struggle, which included protests, sit ins and violence.
The ANC began to act in South Africa, and utilized neighbouring states like Lesotho, Mozambique and Angola to train in guerrilla warfare . The South African authorities countered by engaging these states and actors in conflict or sabotage and assassination. Arbitrary arrests and detentions were common, and with politicians like Nelson Mandela jailed for life. Cold War conflicts were initiated against Angola and Mozambique, and Namibia (occupied since its annexation from Germany in WWI) was occupied and militarized. The South African government used death squads, parcel bombs and sophisticated poisons and application mechanisms to off opponents in the ANC, and the more radical PAC, as well as targets in the South African communist party.
This regime began to crumble in the 1980's due to pressure from the ANC, as well as external sanctions from Western Countries. South Africa lost their wars in the region, and Namibia was eventually granted independence. This culminated in the final victory: the end of Apartheid and the election of an ANC government under Nelson Mandela in the 1990's. A reversal of Apartheid era policies was underway. This was an era of hope, reconciliation, and growth for South Africa. It joined the BRICS economies - a grouping of growing middle income nations dedicated to achieving high income status. Apartheid tensions largely dispersed, as a spirit of reconciliation was initiated, forgiving past racial transgressions, and encouraging peoples to work together to build South Africa into a true rainbow nation.
The book ends with South Africa's current prospects. Although South Africa remains a stable and relatively wealthy nation in Africa, it is seeing the erosion of the hope and spirit of the 1990's and early 2000's. The ANC has matured, and is potentially eclipsing as South Africa's decades long ruling party. The recent ousting of Jacob Zuma, South Africa's precious and largely corrupt President, has seen the ANC shaking. Education, crime and poverty remain key issues, and South Africa suffers from extremely high inequality levels. South Africa's currency, the rand, has also taken a hit in recent years, being downgraded to junk status, and ushering in an era of economic uncertainty. Couple this with South Africa's growing political tensions, and the future is looking less hopeful than before. However, South Africa remains a dynamic force in the region. It is poised to take advantage of the growing presence of Africa in the world, as countries seek to invest in the region. It also remains a diverse nation, with 11 official languages, as well as an abundance of wonderful natural spaces and resources.
Natrrrass has written a concise and interesting history of South Africa. This is a wonderful overview of South African history, and is one of the few contemporary histories of the nation available (at least in my area). I can easily recommend this book for those looking for a good history of this nation, or those looking for a brief refresher on the subject updated to current years.
March 10, 2024
Me ha encantado. Sudáfrica tiene una historia apasionante, tan terrible como sorprendente y divertida. Este libro lo cuenta bien, de forma amena, cubriendo una gran diversidad de temas y manteniendo en cada capítulo un espacio para el papel de las mujeres en la historia.
January 23, 2025
Felt obliged to read this after a family holiday to South Africa. Beautiful and diverse country where you can feel and above all see what their history left behind. Hundreds of years in less then 300 pages can be a bit dry but it’s what the title says, so it’s a good start for if you want to know more.
October 12, 2019
All South Africans should read this book especially if, like me, you were schooled under the 'Christian National Education' system or if you're still in denial about the structural inequalities that have been so hard to eradicate and have led to so much anger and frustration. Gail Nattrass has written an accessible, succinct but thorough history whilst remaining objective. And it is with that objectivity that she lays bare the systematic way in which successive governments - both British and South African - have contrived to reserve the wealth of South Africa for which ever minority - which was always white - they favoured.
I lived in South Africa for 30 years and did all my formal education there but was continually confronted with my ignorance when reading this book. These realisations were followed by successive 'light-bulb' moments too, as myths were dispelled and the insidious historical narratives I had internalised were revealed to be, at best, half-truths, but more usually were just falsehoods designed to justify oppression.
If you're not South African, you should read this book to gain perspective on a fascinating country.
If you're a Saffer, you should read this book to understand why we're where we are and how difficult it will be to progress without fundamental change.
I lived in South Africa for 30 years and did all my formal education there but was continually confronted with my ignorance when reading this book. These realisations were followed by successive 'light-bulb' moments too, as myths were dispelled and the insidious historical narratives I had internalised were revealed to be, at best, half-truths, but more usually were just falsehoods designed to justify oppression.
If you're not South African, you should read this book to gain perspective on a fascinating country.
If you're a Saffer, you should read this book to understand why we're where we are and how difficult it will be to progress without fundamental change.
February 18, 2020
Does what it says - for better and worse. It's short - so you never get bored. But then it sometimes struggles to give you a feel for some of the people involved - and given the cast list has some of the biggest characters (for good and definitely bad) in the last hundred and fifty years, that felt like a missed opportunity. It's history - with footnotes. But quite a few are wikipedia - so does it need to be?
But it's a good overview of South Africa, albeit at times feeling like a longer wikipedia style 'neutral' article. It's a quick run through everything, but rather something that whets appetite to read about Mandela, the ANC greats and grafters, Smuts, Churchill, Botha, De Wet etc.
But it's a good overview of South Africa, albeit at times feeling like a longer wikipedia style 'neutral' article. It's a quick run through everything, but rather something that whets appetite to read about Mandela, the ANC greats and grafters, Smuts, Churchill, Botha, De Wet etc.
March 12, 2020
I would rate this 3.5 stars.
I was on a lovely trip to South Africa and this book just called out to me at an airport bookshop while in transit. It’s v comprehensive and readable and may prepare the reader for more detailed books if he so wishes
I was on a lovely trip to South Africa and this book just called out to me at an airport bookshop while in transit. It’s v comprehensive and readable and may prepare the reader for more detailed books if he so wishes
August 15, 2023
Just right. The is a concise and balanced factual account o the land, people and development is South Africa from earliest of humankind to just into the current century post apartheid. The context provides a better understand of past decisions and current challenges. Text heavy and fact based it wasn’t a riveting read but an informative one.
December 25, 2024
Very good book to understand the big lines of South African history.
Read
November 13, 2017This book is written in an extremely easy to read style and will appeal to all - a South African historian, citizen, past citizen or someone merely interested in the history of South Africa.
Gail Nattrass's wealth of knowledge about South African history as well as her passion for South African history is visible in the depth of her accounts and the logical and down to earth way she relates the South African story. The short account is thorough but extremely clear and concise. Her narration makes for an interesting and enjoyable read.
This book is a must for all young history students and those 'out there' interested in the history of SA.
Gail Nattrass's wealth of knowledge about South African history as well as her passion for South African history is visible in the depth of her accounts and the logical and down to earth way she relates the South African story. The short account is thorough but extremely clear and concise. Her narration makes for an interesting and enjoyable read.
This book is a must for all young history students and those 'out there' interested in the history of SA.
April 7, 2019
I enjoyed this. I didn’t have a good grasp of South African history and this is a good overview. It seems well researched with all the references available if you want to check the source. A nice summary of South African history.
April 9, 2022
The book is a good and concise way of going through the history of South Africa for people with no prior knowledge of it. One very loadable aspect of the book is the objectivity by which the struggle between the whites and the blacks of the country unfolded, showing in my opinion in many instances the horrors of the apartheid system for the black communities of the country and nevertheless, criticizing strongly the politics and attitudes of the democratic elected presidents after Mandela, who have mismanaged the country bringing into dired situations today.
It is very interesting to read the first two chapters in which not only the different peoples of South Africa are listed and explained, but also their language and their relationships. Great Zimbabwe is well known I believe, but the whole change of capital of this old kingdom between the three “towns” that now are at the frontier between South Africa, Zimbabwe und Mozambique was completely unknown to me. For histories of Sub-Saharan Africa there is always huge gaps between prehistory and the arrival of europeans. The book attempts at least, to tell the few details that archeology and other new sources have discovered regarding South Africa before the arrival of the portuguese and the dutch.
The chain of events of the XIX century is summarized more regarding its mining rushes and not so much on its political landscape. The attempt to define and explain all main native tribes and their chiefs was very interesting considering how much such histories is always white-centrist, even considering the reasons why some blacks would have been villainized by whites, effectively making a revision of common boar and British history.
Then most of the remaining chapters centers on the XX century, with its great focus on the rise of the apartheid system and how it affected the lives of most of the population through segregation through most of the century, culminating only thanks to international and internal pressure, provided in part for the fall of the soviet Union and at the head of the first popular elected president Nelson Mandela. The world wars are only shallowly discussed, as the author attempts to concentrate on south african most important characters & internal political developments.
The book is good and accomplish its goal of providing sufficient information about the history of south africa. Nevertheless, at many occasions the explanation of successes are complicated and one gets confused often regarding who did what, when and why. Another more academic book may be needed for someone with previous knowledge or that is interested in more details about South Africa's history.
It is very interesting to read the first two chapters in which not only the different peoples of South Africa are listed and explained, but also their language and their relationships. Great Zimbabwe is well known I believe, but the whole change of capital of this old kingdom between the three “towns” that now are at the frontier between South Africa, Zimbabwe und Mozambique was completely unknown to me. For histories of Sub-Saharan Africa there is always huge gaps between prehistory and the arrival of europeans. The book attempts at least, to tell the few details that archeology and other new sources have discovered regarding South Africa before the arrival of the portuguese and the dutch.
The chain of events of the XIX century is summarized more regarding its mining rushes and not so much on its political landscape. The attempt to define and explain all main native tribes and their chiefs was very interesting considering how much such histories is always white-centrist, even considering the reasons why some blacks would have been villainized by whites, effectively making a revision of common boar and British history.
Then most of the remaining chapters centers on the XX century, with its great focus on the rise of the apartheid system and how it affected the lives of most of the population through segregation through most of the century, culminating only thanks to international and internal pressure, provided in part for the fall of the soviet Union and at the head of the first popular elected president Nelson Mandela. The world wars are only shallowly discussed, as the author attempts to concentrate on south african most important characters & internal political developments.
The book is good and accomplish its goal of providing sufficient information about the history of south africa. Nevertheless, at many occasions the explanation of successes are complicated and one gets confused often regarding who did what, when and why. Another more academic book may be needed for someone with previous knowledge or that is interested in more details about South Africa's history.
February 3, 2022
A survey history of 500 years of South Africa.
This very broad overview presents the violent colonial history of both Dutch and British rule, followed by the racialized governments of the 20th century and finally the political collapse of the National Party in 1990 and the takeover by the ANC.
The book delivers what it promises. The pre-history of the native African peoples followed by initial Dutch colonization were very helpful to put modern SA identities into context.
Gail Nattrass is a liberal historian who tries very hard to be neutral in this controversial history. Sometimes this comes across as simplistic and naive but it does a good job of making complicated events understandable. She is a little apologetic for the Dutch Republicans, painting men like Jan Smuts and Louis Botha in a romantic light. She does a good job of clearly stating the extent of the racial policies of Apartheid, the level of control and dehumanization was beyond what I had originally thought.
After reading through the hundreds of years of oppression of black South Africans, the rise and rule of the ANC comes off very bittersweet and a bit heartbreaking. The radical left wing elements of the party were assassinated and pushed out and the ANC started from a position of compromise and concession. Huge political reforms were made but little has been done economically, the same people still control the wealth and capital and the poor remain poorer than ever.
The crimes of the apartheid government and big business were also left unpunished and the Truth and Reconciliation Committee reminded me of Canada's, the crimes were narrowed down to a very specific set of human rights violations and ignored a broader look at the systemic harm of colonization and racial segregation were ignored.
The book has increased my interest in SA and I would love to learn more about the Mfecane, the Boer wars, the Angolan War, and post 90s SA. Also the Scramble for Africa and the colonization of the continent in general is an area I need to learn more about. The Economic Freedom Fighters party founded in 2013 sound promising, I hope SA can make more positive change.
This very broad overview presents the violent colonial history of both Dutch and British rule, followed by the racialized governments of the 20th century and finally the political collapse of the National Party in 1990 and the takeover by the ANC.
The book delivers what it promises. The pre-history of the native African peoples followed by initial Dutch colonization were very helpful to put modern SA identities into context.
Gail Nattrass is a liberal historian who tries very hard to be neutral in this controversial history. Sometimes this comes across as simplistic and naive but it does a good job of making complicated events understandable. She is a little apologetic for the Dutch Republicans, painting men like Jan Smuts and Louis Botha in a romantic light. She does a good job of clearly stating the extent of the racial policies of Apartheid, the level of control and dehumanization was beyond what I had originally thought.
After reading through the hundreds of years of oppression of black South Africans, the rise and rule of the ANC comes off very bittersweet and a bit heartbreaking. The radical left wing elements of the party were assassinated and pushed out and the ANC started from a position of compromise and concession. Huge political reforms were made but little has been done economically, the same people still control the wealth and capital and the poor remain poorer than ever.
The crimes of the apartheid government and big business were also left unpunished and the Truth and Reconciliation Committee reminded me of Canada's, the crimes were narrowed down to a very specific set of human rights violations and ignored a broader look at the systemic harm of colonization and racial segregation were ignored.
The book has increased my interest in SA and I would love to learn more about the Mfecane, the Boer wars, the Angolan War, and post 90s SA. Also the Scramble for Africa and the colonization of the continent in general is an area I need to learn more about. The Economic Freedom Fighters party founded in 2013 sound promising, I hope SA can make more positive change.
May 29, 2019
A very good primer from the ancient times to just before the current period stopping during Jacob Zuma's government. Its doesn't deal with any of the periods in exhaustive detail, but as a general overview its very good and beginner friendly. Its also effective at showing continuity and change as time marched on, so no period feels disjointed.
Just a couple of quibbles, the book misses the Industrial Workers of the World organisation and its successor the Industrial Workers of Africa, the first interracial union to exist in Southern Africa founded at some point in 1910. It credits a much later Union with that distinction in stead.
It also despite going to great lengths to give every part of South Africa's history and society its say including slaves, members of the African ethnicities, and Indian community, and the women's movement, it sadly completely neglects South Africa's very complex and at times violent history of its LGBTQ community. And odd exception given that during the Apartheid period alone the community was targeted for similar repression and ended rubbing shoulders with many in the liberation struggle, which is mainly why South Africa is seen as a more tolerant nation in the region.
Just a couple of quibbles, the book misses the Industrial Workers of the World organisation and its successor the Industrial Workers of Africa, the first interracial union to exist in Southern Africa founded at some point in 1910. It credits a much later Union with that distinction in stead.
It also despite going to great lengths to give every part of South Africa's history and society its say including slaves, members of the African ethnicities, and Indian community, and the women's movement, it sadly completely neglects South Africa's very complex and at times violent history of its LGBTQ community. And odd exception given that during the Apartheid period alone the community was targeted for similar repression and ended rubbing shoulders with many in the liberation struggle, which is mainly why South Africa is seen as a more tolerant nation in the region.
April 18, 2023
The format is exactly what I wanted: an overview of South Africa's history spanning from prehistory to the modern day, told in one chronological narrative. The writing isn't bad, it's sourced, there are maps, and it includes a diverse range of SA's aspects.
But it's far from comprehensive or complete. I had big problems following the plot during the Europeans' settling phase. After spending a few pages aptly describing how the Dutch and French made some early attempts to colonize the Cape, we are suddenly told that "The English (...) established their authority at the Cape (...) in 1806." This is followed by a short account of English rule (half of which, for some bizarre reason, concerns the sports they brought with them). The book doesn't even allude to how or why the British "established their authority". But isn't this, kind of, one of the most important events in the history of South Africa? If the Dutch had continued ruling SA, the whole history of the Boers and subsequent Afrikaner movement would presumably have been completely different!
(The answer, by the way, is, as far as I can tell, that Britain invaded the Cape during the Napoleonic wars, because a puppet government had been installed in the Netherlands by Napoleon. I'm not sure why they didn't return the colony to the new Dutch government after the war.)
We are then given scattered references to various Boer "republics", but their origin is never explained at all. Although the Boer treks are a prominent part of the narrative, it makes it sound like they are just expanding the borders of South Africa as a whole. Then, in 1880 the First Anglo-Boer war starts because Transvaal accepted annexation by the British and then "regretted it". So Transvaal was independent for decades before this? Why did they suddenly want to be annexed? Why did they regret it, and why would this lead to war? Were there other such independent republics? Were some colonies not independent? As these republics basically define the start of modern history for almost the entire area of South Africa, I can't fathom why this isn't explained at length. Even if just as a prelude to the Boer wars and subsequent unification, it seems obviously relevant to at least go quickly through. This part of the book just baffled me. I don't get it.
(The answer to the questions above are, again as far as I can tell: In the 1830s, thousands of Boers trekked inland, partly to get away from British administration. Some created new republics immediately; others stayed under nominal British control, but were de facto independent. Some were quickly annexed by Britain, but others stayed independent, or merged with other republics. Natalia was one such republic, taken by force by Britain. About 10-20 republics were established, but by the Boer wars, only 2 remained: Transvaal (South African Republic, SAR) and Orange Free State.)
The account of the various native African tribes and nations at this time was decent, although it was hard to keep track. I did get a better feeling for who the Zulu were/are.
There's one other topic which I thought was bizarrely quickly dispensed with: the civil war in KwaZulu and surroundings in the 1980s and 90s. Despite being an armed conflict by rivaling political factions (ANC and Inkatha) with 100k casualties and 20k dead, this is just mentioned in passing in two different places. Wouldn't the second deadliest conflict in South African history warrant a little more space? Or at least... a name? It's just treated as a sort of side-effect of the relatively bloodless revolution going on at the political level between the government and ANC. To be fair to the author, I can hardly find any information on this topic outside the book either. Apparently, this conflict isn't part of the traditional SA history narrative. I hope it becomes so in the future, because it sounds like a huge deal.
Other than the above, I didn't notice any huge holes in the narrative. I appreciate the author's efforts to compress the story into a 250 paperback, but it could have been much smaller, or more space could have been used for big-picture events. She keeps dedicating separate page-long paragraphs to subjects she feels are underrepresented in traditional narratives, such as the role of women and black people in various events, or, as mentioned before, of sports. I found this mostly a waste of space, and ended up skipping much of it. This is supposed to be a short overview, not a comprehensive survey. The women/blacks who actually impacted the narrative in a way so as to make their inclusion necessary, were already part of the main narrative. If the author thought women were actually more instrumental in the story, she should have shown their instrumentality in the main narrative. She didn't, so the effort feels forced and unnecessary.
Although mostly written in a neutral tone, the author does end up including too much of her personal opinion on politics, unions, foreign policy and so on. This, of course, becomes worse as the narrative gets closer to the present time. In the first half of the book, the reader can mostly ignore it; in the second, they become hard to separate from the narrative itself.
Ultimately, although I did get a good overview of South African history from this book, I would have ended up thoroughly confused if I hadn't done a lot of Wikipedia research throughout. After the First Anglo-Boer War, the narrative is mostly comprehensible on its own; but this part of the book is too long in the first place. Too much time is spent on 20th century politics. If this is the best succinct account of SA history available, I hope someone writes a new one. Improving this account to remove the obvious, glaring holes would make for a decent history I could recommend. Seems like low-hanging fruit.
But it's far from comprehensive or complete. I had big problems following the plot during the Europeans' settling phase. After spending a few pages aptly describing how the Dutch and French made some early attempts to colonize the Cape, we are suddenly told that "The English (...) established their authority at the Cape (...) in 1806." This is followed by a short account of English rule (half of which, for some bizarre reason, concerns the sports they brought with them). The book doesn't even allude to how or why the British "established their authority". But isn't this, kind of, one of the most important events in the history of South Africa? If the Dutch had continued ruling SA, the whole history of the Boers and subsequent Afrikaner movement would presumably have been completely different!
(The answer, by the way, is, as far as I can tell, that Britain invaded the Cape during the Napoleonic wars, because a puppet government had been installed in the Netherlands by Napoleon. I'm not sure why they didn't return the colony to the new Dutch government after the war.)
We are then given scattered references to various Boer "republics", but their origin is never explained at all. Although the Boer treks are a prominent part of the narrative, it makes it sound like they are just expanding the borders of South Africa as a whole. Then, in 1880 the First Anglo-Boer war starts because Transvaal accepted annexation by the British and then "regretted it". So Transvaal was independent for decades before this? Why did they suddenly want to be annexed? Why did they regret it, and why would this lead to war? Were there other such independent republics? Were some colonies not independent? As these republics basically define the start of modern history for almost the entire area of South Africa, I can't fathom why this isn't explained at length. Even if just as a prelude to the Boer wars and subsequent unification, it seems obviously relevant to at least go quickly through. This part of the book just baffled me. I don't get it.
(The answer to the questions above are, again as far as I can tell: In the 1830s, thousands of Boers trekked inland, partly to get away from British administration. Some created new republics immediately; others stayed under nominal British control, but were de facto independent. Some were quickly annexed by Britain, but others stayed independent, or merged with other republics. Natalia was one such republic, taken by force by Britain. About 10-20 republics were established, but by the Boer wars, only 2 remained: Transvaal (South African Republic, SAR) and Orange Free State.)
The account of the various native African tribes and nations at this time was decent, although it was hard to keep track. I did get a better feeling for who the Zulu were/are.
There's one other topic which I thought was bizarrely quickly dispensed with: the civil war in KwaZulu and surroundings in the 1980s and 90s. Despite being an armed conflict by rivaling political factions (ANC and Inkatha) with 100k casualties and 20k dead, this is just mentioned in passing in two different places. Wouldn't the second deadliest conflict in South African history warrant a little more space? Or at least... a name? It's just treated as a sort of side-effect of the relatively bloodless revolution going on at the political level between the government and ANC. To be fair to the author, I can hardly find any information on this topic outside the book either. Apparently, this conflict isn't part of the traditional SA history narrative. I hope it becomes so in the future, because it sounds like a huge deal.
Other than the above, I didn't notice any huge holes in the narrative. I appreciate the author's efforts to compress the story into a 250 paperback, but it could have been much smaller, or more space could have been used for big-picture events. She keeps dedicating separate page-long paragraphs to subjects she feels are underrepresented in traditional narratives, such as the role of women and black people in various events, or, as mentioned before, of sports. I found this mostly a waste of space, and ended up skipping much of it. This is supposed to be a short overview, not a comprehensive survey. The women/blacks who actually impacted the narrative in a way so as to make their inclusion necessary, were already part of the main narrative. If the author thought women were actually more instrumental in the story, she should have shown their instrumentality in the main narrative. She didn't, so the effort feels forced and unnecessary.
Although mostly written in a neutral tone, the author does end up including too much of her personal opinion on politics, unions, foreign policy and so on. This, of course, becomes worse as the narrative gets closer to the present time. In the first half of the book, the reader can mostly ignore it; in the second, they become hard to separate from the narrative itself.
Ultimately, although I did get a good overview of South African history from this book, I would have ended up thoroughly confused if I hadn't done a lot of Wikipedia research throughout. After the First Anglo-Boer War, the narrative is mostly comprehensible on its own; but this part of the book is too long in the first place. Too much time is spent on 20th century politics. If this is the best succinct account of SA history available, I hope someone writes a new one. Improving this account to remove the obvious, glaring holes would make for a decent history I could recommend. Seems like low-hanging fruit.
August 14, 2024
This is a clearly written and well organized history of the region governed by modern day South Africa. The history consists primarily of a series of tragic occupations and infighting. It seems the worst of human nature has been on display for centuries in this region- greed, racism, violence and corruption. The bright spots are some truly heroic people such as Jan Smuts, Alan Paton, FW Declerc, and, of course, Nelson Mandela. I recommend reading this book if planning a visit to South Africa or to more fully understand the complexities of colonialism in Africa and tribalism in general.
May 7, 2019
The title says it all. A reader's digest version of SA's history.
I think appropriate for an introduction or senior primary level of depth but mostly lacking in meaningful detail.
The author has also tried to remain objective but I think that future generations will judge this as the pendulum swinging just a little too far
I think appropriate for an introduction or senior primary level of depth but mostly lacking in meaningful detail.
The author has also tried to remain objective but I think that future generations will judge this as the pendulum swinging just a little too far
January 8, 2019
Excellent introduction for a non South African like me to understand both where the country has come from but also the reasons for some of the challenges that are currently evident. Recommended for anyone travelling to South Africa for the first time.
October 12, 2019
This is definitely a good overview text which clearly makes an effort to include the stories and perspectives of those traditionally neglected by history books. However I don't think the writing style is the best, and it could have done with some photographs of the events/people covered.
June 1, 2025
Great overview on South African history and politics. Gave me the chance to understand the origins of the apartheid regime in SA and how colonialism led to apartheid to modern day issues under capitalism. Would recommend for a good and insightful first read on SA history and politics!
September 21, 2018
I visited South Africa and found this book on the best seller book in the bookstore. During my flight back home I finished the book in one sitting, a very enjoyable read even for a novice like me.
August 19, 2018
Irritatingly shallow. The Kindle version is riddled with errors.
June 28, 2021
Poor South Africa, her history is long and bloody. Good book, though.
July 26, 2021
Solid read with great knowledge for pub quizzes
January 25, 2023
Seems like a fairly objective history of South Africa, covering a good range of topics. Not always a page turner, but has enough in here to keep your interest going.
February 26, 2023
Reads a bit like a long, dry Wikipedia entry but gets the job done in terms of providing an overview of South Africa’s history.
September 29, 2024
Rereading this having first encountered it while at university - refreshing and interesting, though at times glosses over some important events that would benefit from more focus.
August 3, 2022
Leest prettig, soms zelfs ontroerend. Zeer uitgebreide geschiedenis, vanaf de eerste mensen in Zuid-Afrika
June 13, 2019
A good read
Slightly bias, but a comprehensive summary of a fascinating country where hope and despair come together in an almost impossible fight for superiority.
Slightly bias, but a comprehensive summary of a fascinating country where hope and despair come together in an almost impossible fight for superiority.
August 4, 2019
Great job of providing a history of South Africa that did NOT begin in the 1850s.
December 28, 2021
I want to recommend this to everyone who oversimplifies South African history. Absolutely amazing read.
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