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EventTrial of South African Communist party members begins
The trial of Abram Fischer QC, and thirteen others, charged with being members of the Communist Party and conspiracy to commit sabotage begins. The Communist…
EventVuyisile Mini, Trade unionist and uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) activist is hanged
Vuyisile Mini a trade unionist and uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) activist was hanged for his role in the MK and anti-apartheid resistance. As a member of the South…
EventNames of 303 banned people are published
A government notice published on 6 November 1964 gave the names of 303 persons on whom banning notices under the General Laws Amendment Act of 1963 (the so…
EventSouth African pop queen, Brenda Fassie, is born
Brenda Nokuzola Fassie, South African Pop Queen, was born in 1964 in Langa, a township near Cape Town. She was named after the American country singer Brenda…
EventThe United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar is renamed United Republic of Tanzania
On 29 October 1964, the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania. Tanganyika became independent on 9 December…
EventZambia gains independence from Britain
On 24 October, 1964 Northern Rhodesia (now known as Zambia) gained independence from Britain. Kenneth Kaunda, the country’s first president, proclaimed one…
EventPope Paul VI proclaims 22 new African saints. The saints, known as the Blessed Martyrs of Uganda, were a group of converts who were persecuted and martyred from 1885
The Uganda Martyrs were Ugandan Christians who were murdered for their faith. Most of the 22 martyrs were killed in a single incident, on 3 June1886. In the…
EventKenneth David Kaunda wins Zambian elections
Kenneth David Kaunda wins Zambian elections and will become the first president of an independent republic on 24 October 1964. The victory of Kaunda in the…
EventJohn Harris and the Johannesburg station bomb
A time bomb placed in the Johannesburg railway station exploded during the evening rush hours. The explosion resulted in the death of one person and severe…
EventUN concerned about Fischer’s arrest
The United Nations (UN) Committee on the Policy of Apartheid of the Government of South Africa (Special Committee Against Apartheid) expressed very serious…
EventMandela is awarded the Joliot Curie Gold Medal for Peace
The paper 'Leader' announced that African National Congress (ANC) leader Nelson Mandela has been awarded the Joliot Curie Gold Medal for Peace the previous…
Event90-Days Act comences
The General Laws Amendment Act of 1964 (passed in 1963) or the 90-Day Act, commences on this day. It is dubbed the 90-Day Act as it provides for any person to…
EventRivonia trial sentence is delivered
At the conclusion of the Rivonia trial eight of the accused were sentenced to life imprisonment in the Pretoria Supreme Court. The eight were Nelson Mandela,…
EventUN Security Council urges SA government to end Rivonia Trial
On June 9, 1964, just two days before the final verdict was reached, the UN Security Council passed a resolution urging the South African government to end the…
EventSewsunkerlal Bahadur Singh dies in Durban
Sewsunkerlal Bahadur Singh, champion for the poor and social worker, died in Durban. He was born in 1890 and played an active role in SA sports as, inter alia,…
EventLesotho unable to impose sanctions against SA
The leader of the Basutoland National Party, Chief Leabua Jonathan, indicated that Basutoland (Lesotho) was so economically dependent on South Africa that the…
Recommendations by Commission of Inquiry into SA Press
EventSA withdraws from the International Labour Organisation
In February 1964 the International Labour Organisation (ILO) voted in favour of the suspension of South Africa from its Annual General Conferences. The ILO…
EventDr Albert Hertzog confirms that television would not be introduced in South Africa
On 7 March 1964, the Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, Dr Albert Hertzog, confirmed that the government's policy regarding television was unchanged. Television…
EventMuhammad Ali defeats Charles Liston in the World heavyweight title fight
On 25 February 1964, Cassius Marcellus Clay also known as Muhammad Ali, fought Charles "Sonny" Liston for the heavyweight title in Miami, Florida. Liston tried…
EventInternational Labour Organisation (ILO) suspends South Africa
The governing body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) voted in favour of suspending South Africa from participation in its Annual General…
EventSir de Villiers Graaff agrees with SA veto of UN visit
Sir de Villiers Graaff, leader of the United Party, the official opposition, agreed with the apartheid government that the composition of the proposed United…
EventThe University of Port Elizabeth is founded
The University of Port Elizabeth (UPE), came into being on 31 January 1964 with the adoption by Parliament of Act 1 of 1964. The first academic year commenced…
EventSA Government spoil Chief Albert Luthuli’s chance of Rectorship
It is announced that efforts by Britain's Foreign Secretary, Mr. Butler and Glasgow University to obtain permission from the South African Government for…
EventKenneth Kaunda becomes the Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia)
Later in 1964, on 24 October, Zambia gained its full independence from Britain and Kaunda then became the first President of Zambia.
EventUN names four experts to investigate apartheid in South Africa
On 13 January 1964, the United Nations Secretary-General named a team of four experts to investigate apartheid in South Africa. They were: Sir Edward Asafu…
EventWalter Sisulu’s appeal is dismissed
The Transvaal section of the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by the African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Walter Sisulu against a six years…
EventThe first ‘Bantustans’ or ‘homelands’ comes into existence when the Transkei Regional Authority is instituted
On 11 December 1963 the first of the 'Bantustans' or 'homelands' came into existence when the Minister of Bantu Administration and Development, De Wet Nel,…
EventChief Kaiser Matanzima is elected Chief Minister
Born in the Eastern Cape, Chief Daliwonga Kaiser Matanzima was made paramount chief of the emigrant Thembu clan. He was a strong proponent of the Apartheid…