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1652: Dutch East India Company establishes a refreshment station

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1652: Dutch East India Company establishes a refreshment station

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On 6 April 1652, Jan van Riebeeck and his crew landed at the Cape of Good Hope. They established a refreshment station for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) ships travelling between Europe and Asia. This marks the beginning of permanent European settlement in the Cape.

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The VOC released some of its employees to become free citizens (Free Burghers) and farm the land. This decision led to the expansion of the settlement beyond the initial fort area and marked the beginning of a permanent colonial presence.

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Tensions between the Dutch settlers and the indigenous Khoikhoi people erupted into the first armed conflict. This war was primarily over land and cattle, as the Dutch expansion threatened Khoikhoi grazing lands and livestock.

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Governor Simon van der Stel established Stellenbosch, the second oldest European settlement in South Africa after Cape Town. This marked the beginning of significant inland expansion of the colony.

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A group of French Huguenots, fleeing religious persecution in France, arrived at the Cape. They significantly contributed to the development of the wine industry and brought new agricultural skills to the colony.

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A devastating smallpox epidemic hit the Cape Colony, severely affecting both the European settlers and the indigenous Khoikhoi population. This event significantly weakened Khoikhoi resistance to colonial expansion.

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The town of Swellendam was established, becoming the third-oldest European settlement in South Africa. Its founding represented the continued eastward expansion of the colony and the growing agricultural focus of the settlement.

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1795: First British Occupation of the Cape

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1795: First British Occupation of the Cape

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British forces seized control of the Cape Colony from the Dutch during the Napoleonic Wars. This marked the beginning of British influence in the region, although the colony was briefly returned to Dutch control in 1803 before being permanently occupied by Britain in 1806.