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EventMartin Luther King, Junior, is born
Martin Luther King, Junior, an African-American clergyman who orchestrated social change through non-violent methods was born on 15 January 1929 in Atlanta,…
EventThe first OK Bazaars opens on the corner of Eloff and President Street in Johannesburg
On 25 June 1927, Michael Miller and Sam Cohen opened the first OK Bazaars on Eloff and President Streets in Johannesburg. OK Bazaars went on to gain success as…
EventJeannette Schoon and her daughter are killed by a letter bomb
Former member of South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), Jeannette Schoon, and her six-year old daughter, Katryn, were killed by a letter bomb at…
EventThe first regional committee of the UDF is established in Natal
Anti-apartheid organisations united under the umbrella of the United Democratic Front. One of the first steps in creating the front was to establish regional…
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…
EventThe Azanian People’s Organisation is formed
The Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO) was formed at an inaugural conference in Roodepoort, near Johannesburg. The organisation was based on the philosophy…
EventJimmy Kruger announces amendment to the Internal Security Act
The Minister of Justice, James Thomas (JT, Jimmy) Kruger, announced that the provisions of the Internal Security Act, allowing for the unlimited detention…
EventESCOM announces its decision to order two nuclear power reactors from France
On 29 May 1976, the South African Electricity Supply Commission (ESKOM) announced its decision to order two nuclear power reactors from France. These reactors…
EventA consumer boycott is called in Boksburg
The town councils of Vosloorus and Reiger Park staged a consumer boycott in Boksburg on the East Rand (now Ekurhuleni municipality, Gauteng). The boycott, by…
EventUN passes resolutions on South Africa
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed resolutions condemning South Africa's relations with its Southern African neighbours. The UN General Assembly…
EventUnited Democratic Front member Pearl Tshabalala assassinated
Ms Pearl Tshabalala, a prominent businesswoman and member of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Clermont, Durban, who had resisted moves to incorporate…
EventApartheid bomb kills Zimbabwean and injures six ANC members
On 10 January 1988, Mr Obed Amon Mwanza, a Zimbabwean, was killed and six African National Congress (ANC) members were injured when the truck in which Mwanza…
EventSamora Machel, president of Mozambique, dies in a plane crash
On 19 October 1986, the Mozambique President, Samora Machel and thirty-three other passengers, died when their Tupolev 134 plane crashed into the Lebombo…
EventPW Botha gives the “Rubicon” Speech in Durban
On the night of 15 August 1985, South Africa's President P. W. Botha delivered the infamous "Rubicon" Speech in Durban. Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time…
EventConstructors make mass grave finding in Namibia
Reports were made that two mass graves were found at a former South African Defence Force base, Eenhana, in northern Namibia. Construction workers discovered…
EventHealth Minister Tshabalala-Msimang announces that SA pledges R20 million to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria
On 20 May 2002, South African Health Minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, announced at a meeting of the World Health Assembly in Geneva that South Africa was…
EventDiscovery of the wreck of passenger liner SS Waratah
On 26 July 1909, the SS Waratah, with 211 passengers and crew departed from Durban bound for Cape Town, and disappeared without a trace. For 90 years the fate…
EventCollen Chauke, infamous escapee, is captured
Collen Chauke, South Africa's most wanted fugitive, was captured in Nelspruit. He was arrested at a roadblock in Nelspruit near South Africa's border with…
EventMagnus Malan’s trial ends
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…
EventSA President Nelson Mandela to step down
On 7 July 1996, in a television broadcast President Nelson Mandela confirmed the rumours that he would not stand for re-election in 1999. This is in accordance…
EventHalley’s Comet reaches the closest point to earth
Halley's Comet is named after the astronomer Edmund Halley, who in 1705 calculated the orbit of the comet around the sun. Halley was also the first astronomer…
EventAfrikaans author Mikro is born
Christoffel Hermanus Kahn (Mikro), Afrikaans author, was born at Van Reenensplaas in Williston district, Cape Colony. KÁƒÂƒÂ¼hn attended school at Robertson…
EventJohn Koenakeefe Mohl, SA artist is born
On 29 September 1903, John Koenakeefe Mohl, South African artist and founding member of Artists Under The Sun, was born at Dinokana village in Lehurutshe,…
EventPixley Seme, lawyer, journalist and co-founder of SANNC is born
On 1 October 1881, Pixley ka Isaka Seme was born at the Inanda mission station in Natal (now kwaZulu Natal). Seme was a founding member of the South African…
EventPrime Minister Verwoerd’s assassin transferred from prison to a mental asylum
On 30 June 1994, the Minister of Correctional Services in South Africa, Dr Sipho Mzimela, announced that Dimitri Tsafendas, the parliamentary messenger who…
EventScientists find the virus that may cause Aids.
On 23 April 1984 the discovery of a virus that may cause Acquired Immune deficiency Syndrome (Aids) the disease that destroys blood cells, leaving its victims…
EventSouth African writer J.M. Coetzee is born in Cape Town.
Born John Maxwell Coetzee in Cape Town to Afrikaner parents, Coetzee uses his initials as his pen name. He studied at the University of Cape Town and graduated…
EventEduardo Mondlane, president of FRELIMO, dies
Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane was born in Manjacaze, Gaza Province, in Portuguese East Africa (now Mozambique). He was born into a Tsonga royal family and was a…
EventJohnny Clegg, South African musician is born
Johnny Clegg was born in England in 1953 to an English father and a Zimbabwean mother. He left England for Zimbabwe where he lived until the age of seven. He…
EventArtist, Thomas Trevor Motswai , award-winning South African artist is born
Thomas Trevor Motswai (known as Tommy) is an award-winning South African artist. He has achieved national and international acclaim. Motswai was born on 27 May…