The constitution of the South African Students' Organisation (SASO) is adopted at its inaugural conference and Steve Biko is elected president. Other leading party members include: Barney Pityana, Harry Nengwekhulu, Hendrick Musi, Petrus Machaka, Manana Kgware, Aubrey Mokoape, J Goolam and Strini Moodley. Though the new organisation is committed to a philosophy of Black Consciousness, it does not reject the liberalism of National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) right away.

Artist, Ronald Harrison caused controversy in 1962 when he painted African National Congress (ANC) leader, Albert Luthuli as Jesus. The painting, named Black Christ, depicts Luthuli crucified on the cross next to apartheid mastermind Hendrick Verwoed and former Minister of Justice John Vorster, who are depicted as Roman Soldiers. The painting not only challenged the apartheid system, but also the notion that Jesus was white. Harrison was arrested and the painting banned. The painting was smuggled to the United Kingdom and was only returned in 1997. Harrison died of cancer on 28 June 2011, just before he was to exhibit his latest work. Black Christ remains his most famous work. The painting is now housed at the South African National Gallery.

South African engineer, Nuno Gomes, entered the Guinness Book of Records for mankind's deepest dive ever on 13 June 2005. Gomes'318.25m plunge beat the record of 313m, set by Mark Ellyatt in Thailand in 2003. His target was a depth of 320, but he only managed 318.25, which still proved good enough for a world record. It took Gomes only 20 minutes to descend, but returning to the surface took an agonising 12 hours. The quick descend and slow return to surface is a technique used in extremely deep scuba diving. Gomes is one of very few people to have descended below depths of 250m. More people have been on the moon than below the sea.

Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hassim Jawad, announced that his country will not recognise the government of South Africa because of its apartheid policies. The announcement came after the Sharpeville massacre, when 69 people were killed by security police after a peaceful protest led by the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).The political conditions in South Africa were disturbing and the whole world was commemorating the first anniversary of the Sharpeville killings. Political organisations like African National Congress (ANC),South African Communist Party (SACP), PAC and others were banned the previous year under the Unlawful Organisations Act of 1950.

The decision to make December 16 a holiday named Dingaan's Day was in celebration for what Voortrekkers viewed as a 'victory' over Zulu warriors near the Ncome River in KwaZulu Natal. On that day an estimated 10 000-20 000 Zulu warriors led by Dingane's generals Dambuza (Nzobo) and Ndlela kaSompisi attacked about 470 Voortrekkers at dawn. With the advantage of gun powder Zulu warriors were repelled with an estimated 3000 warriors killed. The blood of casualties flowed into Ncome River turning its water red earning it the nickname "Blood River". This confrontation between Voortrekkers and Zulu regiments became known as the name "Battle of Blood River". December 16 remained a rallying point for the development of Afrikaner nationalism, culture and identity. However, in 1952 the name of the day was changed to Day of Covenant. After the first democratic elections in 1994, December 16 continued to form part of the history of post apartheid South Africa. On 16 December 1995 the name was changed once more and was celebrated as a public holiday known as Day of Reconciliation. The establishment of December 16 as a public holiday was an attempt to strike a balance between a divided past and promoting national unity and reconciliation in a new political dispensation.

On 28 May1991, Ethiopians People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) captured the capital of Ethiopia,Addis Ababa. The EPRDF was led by the Meles Zinawi, a popular rebel leader and probably the only candidate capable of unseating Mengistu Haile Mariam.Zinawi waged a successful rebel war against the forces of Mengistu and his appointment marked the end of years of civil war in the country. After this development, Zenawi became head of the interim government. The country was now taking a new path, moving away from the grip of ethnic strife.On taking over as head of the new government, Zenawi promised a democratic dispensation for his nation of 50 million, as well as economic and agricultural reforms.

In the aftermath of the 16 June 1976 Uprising, in Soweto, Johannesburg, the apartheid government banned all the organisations under the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) banner. The BCM organisations were the forces behind the uprising, these included among others, the Black People's Convention (BPC), the South African Students' Organisation (SASO) and the Black Community Programmes (BCP). Out of the banning of these liberation movements the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO) was founded to carry on the work of liberation as an overt organisation. The organisation adopted the Black Consciousness philosophy advocated by Steven Biko and continued to propagate it in it programmes. During the apartheid years AZAPO became increasingly divided with some of its members adhering to the African National Congress' (ANC) Freedom Charter which promotes non-racialism. AZAPO boycotted the 1994 democratic elections; however, it has since participated in all subsequent elections.

On 15 April 1996, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), under Chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu, began its first formal hearings in East London City Hall. The South African TRC was set up by the Government of National Unity (the democratic government since 1994) to help deal with violations of human rights during the apartheid era. The Commission heard testimonies from all members of South African society about political crimes, violence and human rights abuses that had not been disclosed. The Commission was charged with the responsibility to prosecute alleged perpetrators or grant amnesty. The TRC consisted of different committees, namely the Human Rights Violations (HRV), Reparation and Rehabilitation (R&R) and Amnesty Committees (AC).

Charlotte Maxeke was born on 7 April 1847 in Fort Beaufort in Cape Town. From a young age Maxeke showed musical talent. She finished primary school early and her parents moved to Kimberly, where Maxeke completed her secondary school. It was at this time that she took part in musical activities. She joined a choir, and traveled throughout Europe performing. One of the highlights was the 1897 Jubilee at the London Royal Albert Hall where she performed for the Queen. Maxeke then travelled to the US on a church scholarship, where she obtained her doctorate in Arts and Humanities. She met her husband Marshall Maxeke during her stay in the US. Upon her return to South Africa, Maxeke took up teaching and also took part in political activities in the African National Congress (ANC). She co-founded the Bantu Women's League of South Africa, later renamed the ANC Women's League. Maxeke died on 16 October 1939. Johannesburg Hospital has been renamed the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in honor of her contribution to the freedom struggle.

On 3 April 1968, South Africa Prime Minister B.J. Vorster announced that five 'non-White' South African University Colleges will be released from their association with the University of South Africa (UNISA). Henceforth the University College of Fort Hare, University College of Durban-Westville, University College of the Western Cape, University College of Zululand and University College of the North were separate entities. Among other things, the institutions were to be called universities and would be subject to certain conditions, be free to provide their own teaching and conduct examinations independently of UNISA. All the five university colleges played a tremendous role in shaping the history of South Africa during the liberation struggle.