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EventThe first recognised AIDS cases are reported in the USA
On 5 June 1981, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) reported that 5 gay men in California were suffering from a rare pneumonia (Pneumocystis…
EventSA rugby team plays and wins the first test match against Ireland
On 30 May 1981, South Africa played its first rugby test match against Ireland at Newlands stadium in Cape Town. This game was particularly significant, as…
EventThe Nationalist Party wins election with a reduced majority in the National Assembly
Assembly on 29 April 1981, voters returned the National Party (NP) to power, albeit with a reduced majority in the House of Assembly compared to previous…
EventThe S. A government seizes the passport of Bishop Desmond Tutu
Between 1976 and 1978 Desmond Tutu served as Bishop of the Anglican Church in Lesotho and as Secretary-General of the South African Council of Churches. On 16…
EventPW Botha states that the Soviets will not prevent South Africa from attacking ANC bases in Mozambique
The regular cross border raids by South African troops, that violated the sovereignty of its neighbouring countries in order to prop up the Apartheid system,…
EventPrime Minister P.W. Botha announces Ciskei will become independent on 4 December 1981
The homeland known as Ciskei, between the Fish and the Kei River, was created between 1961 and 1982 by the then Nationalist Party Government.. This was done as…
EventMozambique stresses its continued support for the ANC
Mozambique stresses its continued support for the African National Congress (ANC), in a statement made at the funeral of twelve ANC members killed in the South…
EventSA cross-border raid in Maputo kills several
Several people were killed in Operation Beanbag, an attack by the South African army on the planning and control headquarters of the African National Congress …
EventAt least 100 people drown in a flood at Laingsburg
On 25 January 1981, Laingsburg in the Western Cape was devastated by a severe flood. The hard rains immersed the whole town in water, only the roofs of the…
EventPercy Qoboza, editor of the Post, states that it is difficult to see how a credible newspaper for Blacks can be created in South Africa
Percy Qoboza was a journalist and outspoken critic of the apartheid regime. He initially studied in the field of theology, but became involved in journalism…
EventJustice Coetzee refuses to lift banishment on four Black newspapers
In the Rand Supreme Court, Justice Coetzee, refused to lift the banning order on four Black newspapers, the Post Transvaal, Saturday Post, Sunday Post and the…
EventIconic musician, John Lennon, was shot dead outside his New York apartment
At approximately 11:00 PM, John Lennon was shot 4 times in the back as he entered his luxury apartment building on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The Lennon's…
EventP.W. Botha proposes a 'Constellation of States'
During the National Party rally in Ladysmith, Natal, Prime Minister P.W. Botha assured his party supporters that the proposed constitutional reforms would not…
EventANC calls on International community to save lives
At the end of the Soekmekaar and Silverton trial in Pretoria, three young Black men, Noimbithi Johnson Lubisi 28, Petrus Tsepo Mashigo 20, and Naphtali Manani…
EventMedical Association agrees to investigate Biko’s death
After a two week judicial inquest under presiding magistrate Mr. Marthinus Prins, it was found that no particular person could be blamed for the death of Steve…
EventMinister announces compulsory education for Black children
The minister of (Black) education and training, Dr Ferdinand Hartzenberg, announced that compulsory education for Black children would be introduced in stages,…
EventDraft laws are gazetted
The draft laws were gazetted, providing some benefits for Black people. These include greatly increased mobility and security of tenure for Blacks qualified to…
EventMafeking (Mafikeng) is surrendered to Bophuthatswana
EventCourt commutes James Mange’s sentence
Following an international campaign led by international bodies such as the United Nations, Organisation of African Unity (now AU), Non-Align Movement, and non…
EventZimbabwe becomes a member of the United Nations (UN)
Zimbabwe's pre-colonial history is synonymous with the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, after which the country is now named. Following colonisation by Britain,…
EventSchool boycott in Port Elizabeth ends
Leaders of Port Elizabeth's Black secondary school children decided to end a four month boycott of classes. This followed after negotiations took place between…
EventRight wing Wit Kommando bombs academic’s office
The office of a member of Prime Minister P.W. Botha's team, responsible for drawing up plans for a Southern African Constellation of States, Professor Jan…
EventJohannesburg municipal workers strike
The biggest strike by the migrant municipal workers took place in Johannesburg, the largest and most industrialised city in South Africa. The strike involved…
EventSA Prime Minister P. W. Botha warns the country that confrontation will be inevitable if his proposed President’s Council fails
South African Prime Minister P. W. Botha warns the country that confrontation will be inevitable if his proposed President's Council fails. The Council was…
EventThe new RSA Constitution Bill is read in parliament
The Republic of South Africa Constitution Bill received its third reading. Among its provisions were the abolition of the Senate and the creation of a sixty…
EventThe South African security police bombed two houses in Manzini, Swaziland
In response to attacks on the Sasol oil refinery in Secunda, the South African security police bombed two houses in Manzini, Swaziland. The attacks claimed the…
EventSASOL plant under attack
The attacks on SASOL I, NATREF and SASOL II took place on the night of 31 May/1 June 1980 in order to coincide with Republic Day. The attack was organised by…
EventSasol I, NATREF and Sasol II are under attack
Three attacks were launched on the night of 31 May/1 June at Sasol I and NATREF in Sasolburg and Sasol II in Secunda to coincide with Republic Day…
EventFifth Constitution Amendment Bill is introduced
The Republic of South Africa Constitution Fifth Amendment Bill, establishing a framework for deliberations on the country's future constitutional, economic and…
EventThe schools boycott spreads to the Black townships
On 28 May 1980 the schools boycott spread to the Black townships. In Durban and Port Elizabeth riot police were called in. At Elsies River, near Cape Town,…