President Thabo Mbeki unveiled the Women's Monument at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The aim of the monument was to commemorate the role of women in the struggle and marked the 44th anniversary of the march of 20 000 women to the Union Buildings. The celebration and commemoration included the unveiling of the monument dedicated to the 1956 march and portraits of some of the women who led that march. The portraits included those of Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Raheema Moosa and Sophie De Bruin. Some of the survivors of the march were present to witness a symbolic victory of their struggle.

The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) was the underground military wing of the Pan African Congress (PAC). APLA was formed in the 1960s, after the banning of the PAC and other political organisations such as the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). APLA supported the PAC ideology of iZwe ngelethu, "Africa is Ours", and Mayibuye iAfrika, "Bring back Africa". APLA was associated with attacks on and murders of White South Africans. Most of these murders and attacks reportedly took place in the Eastern and Western Cape.

President Nelson Mandela delivered his last major address to parliament at the opening of the ultimate session of the first democratically elected parliament.

Allan Boesak graduated from the Belville Theological Seminary and worked as a pastor in Paarl between 1967 and 1970. After received his PhD from a university in New York, he led a parish in Belville South. Boesak rose to prominence when he became the head of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in 1982. He used this platform to speak out against the policies of the apartheid government.

In providing reasons for the decision of the Pretoria High Court to set the investigation of the Browde Commission into South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) Affairs aside, Justice William de Villiers said that the evidence of President Nelson Mandela was unsatisfactory because he refused to answer certain questions, answered back and used the court for political rhetoric.

Basil 'Manenberg' Coetzee (54), South African jazz musician who played with Abdullah Ibrahim (also known as Dollar Brand) died during the night of 11 March 1998 after a long struggle with cancer.

The former South Africa Minister of Education, Dr. Sibusiso Bengu warned the University of Stellenbosch that it could not continue to be an exclusively Afrikaans-speaking University within a new democratic South Africa. This followed the University's refusal to comply with the new regulations for integrated higher education, which included an inclusive medium of instruction. Since its establishment in 1866, Stellenbosch University had maintained a white Afrikaner student body through the use of the Afrikaans language as the medium of instruction.

The seven-month trial of former Minister of Defence Magnus Malan ended on 11 October when he and other officials were cleared of all charges relating to the murder of thirteen people in KwaMakutha in 1987. The case centred on allegations that the former government had waged a dirty war against its opponents. Judge Jan Hugo concluded his judgment, acquitting Malan and other nine defendants.

President Nelson Mandela confirmed that hotel magnate and socialite Sol Kerzner did indeed make a contribution to the ANC electoral funds as alleged by Bantu Holomisa, but stated that he has told no-one else in the African National Congress (ANC) about the donation. Mandela's confirmation vindicated Holomisa who was branded a liar by most of the senior officials within the ANC. Holomisa demanded a public apology from the ANC, but a bitter and clearly agitated Mandela refused.

On 25 May 1996, two South Africans - Ian Woodall and Cathy O'Dowd, reached the summit of Mount Everest. This was the first official South African team to conquer the highest mountain in the world. Their jubilation was dampened when a member of their team, British photographer Bruce Herrod, went missing. He had reportedly reached the summit hours later, and is thought to have died on his descent. Until the end of apartheid, South Africans had not been able to get a permit for Everest. The expedition was initiated by Ian Woodall, who became the leader.