Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Taung Child fossil was unearthed near the town of Taung in 1924 by Raymond Dart. This discovery provided the first concrete evidence that humanity's roots lay on the African continent rather than in Asia or Europe. The fossil was found in the limestone caves of the Cradle of Humankind in Gauteng Province.
Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias became the first European to round the southernmost tip of Africa in 1488. He originally named the location the Cape of Storms before King John II renamed it the Cape of Good Hope. This maritime breakthrough opened the oceanic trade route between Europe and Asia.
The Union of South Africa was created on the 31st of May 1910 after the amalgamation of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange River colonies. This dominion included the former territories of the Cape, Transvaal and Natal colonies, as well as the Orange Free State republic. The formation marked a significant political shift following the Anglo-Boer Wars.
On the 31st of May 1961, the country became a republic following a referendum open only to white voters. Elizabeth II lost the title Queen of South Africa as a result of this vote. The country withdrew from the Commonwealth of Nations in 1961 but rejoined it in 1994 after the end of apartheid.
Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990 after serving 27 years for sabotage and treason. South Africa held its first universal elections in 1994, which the African National Congress won by an overwhelming majority. The ANC has been in power since that election.
The Cape Floral Region contains more than 9,000 plant species, which is three times more than found in the Amazon rainforest. This region is located in a small area of the Western Cape and is among the richest regions on Earth in terms of plant diversity. The fynbos biome makes up the majority of the plant life in this area.