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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,…
EventSADF troops kill SWAPO guerrillas
81 South West African nationalist guerrilla fighters were killed by South African soldiers on 23 May 1980, during the protracted conflict for Namibian…
EventSA signs Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
South Africa was one of the original twenty-two nations who signed the multilateral Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR…
EventThozamile Botha breaks banning order
Port Elizabeth Black Civic Organisation (PEBCO) activist Thozamile Botha broke his banning order and escaped to Lesotho. PEBCO was an affiliate of the banned…
EventPope John Paul II visits Africa
Pope John Paul II began his first tour of Africa, including visits to Zaire (presently known as the Democratic Republic of Congo), Congo, Kenya, Ghana, Upper…
EventIndian students join the Coloured schools boycott
The Coloured schools' boycott began as a result of students' dissatisfaction with the South African educational and political systems. Students from about 60…
EventZimbabawean Independence Day
Zimbabwe Independence Day On this day in 1980, Southern-Rhodesia gained independence from the British, taking the name Zimbabwe. The day marked the end of…
EventEnd of the road for the Union Jack in Africa
In a historic move, the Union Jack was lowered for the last time in Africa on this day when the embattled ex-British colony of Rhodesia was declared…
EventThe Black Consciousness Movement of Azania is formed in London
Following the waning of the influence of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM), members of the movement formed new groups and some joined other liberation…
EventANC attack on Booysens Police Station
African National Congress (ANC) insurgents launched a rifle, rocket and grenade attack on Booysens Police Station Johannesburg. Pamphlets were scattered…
EventZANU-PF wins the first free elections in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) won the first free elections in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe, president of ZANU since 1977, became the…
EventReverend David Russell sentenced for defying his banning order
Religious leaders were among the foremost and vocal opponents of the Apartheid regime. Acting out of conscience and under the banner of religion, however, did…
EventMakhwenkwe Harrison Butshingi, trade unionist and community leader, dies
On 28 February 1980, Makhwenkwe Harrison Butshingi died in Orlando West, Soweto. Butshingi was born in the Transkei in 1906, and moved to the Transvaal in…
EventFirst Multiracial Election is held in Zimbabwe
After a war of independence fought between members of various liberation organisations and the illegal Rhodesian government, with the liberation organisation…
EventEgypt Establishes Diplomatic Relations With Israel
Israel and Egypt, under the leadership of Anwar al Sadat, re-establish diplomatic relations. The move is resented by other Arab nations. Egypt's military…
EventSADF takes over security of Northern Natal from the SAP to prevent infiltration into SA by Liberation Movements
The deteriorating state of security that marked the eighties convinced the Apartheid government that a revision of its approach to infiltration by the…
The Quail Commission report is released
EventRobert Mugabe returns to Rhodesia after being in exile for five years
On 27 January 1980, the Rhodesian nationalist leader Robert Mugabe returned to Rhodesia after being in exile for five years. Mugabe had been trying to gather…