Simpson, T. 2021. History of South Africa from 1902 to the present [Book review]

Abstract

The book explores South Africa’s journey from the aftermath of the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902) to the democratic dispensation. Drawing on documentary evidence including letters, diaries, eyewitness accounts and diplomatic reports, the book tracks down South Africa’s journey to liberation through battles, repression, resistance, political conflict, strikes, massacres, as well as economic and health crises. Furthermore, it covers the influence on the country’s political landscape exerted by some of its key political figures such as Pixley ka Seme, Lilian Ngoyi, Nelson Mandela, H F Verwoerd, Jan Smuts, P W Botha, Steve Biko, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa. The book provides accounts of the events that shaped South Africa’s character. These include the 1922 Rand Revolt, the Defiance Campaign, the Sharpeville Massacre, the Soweto Uprisings and the Marikana Massacre. The book also explores the role played by figures from further afield: Mohandas Gandhi, Fidel Castro, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. Global military conflicts such as the world wars, armed struggle and border wars are also explored in the book. It further explores South Africa’s transition to democracy and traces the phases of the ANC’s rule from the Rainbow Nation to transformation and state capture to “New Dawn”. The book also examines the divisive and unifying roles of sport, economic challenges and the pandemics.