1986 in South Africa
Encyclopedia
January
- A SowetoSowetoSoweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
man throws a grenadeGrenadeA grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
at 3 policemen, police retaliate and kill the man - 4 January - Two people are killed and two others injured when their vehicle hit an anti-tankTankA tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
land mineLand mineA land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
at Stockpoort in the Ellisras area not far from the BotswanaBotswanaBotswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
border - 5 January - A policeman and a terrorist are killed at a police roadblockRoadblockA roadblock is a temporary installation set up to control or block traffic along a road. The reasons for one could be:*Roadworks*Temporary road closure during special events*Police chase*Robbery*Sobriety checkpoint...
on East London / King William's TownKing William's TownKing William's Town is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa along the banks of the Buffalo River. The town is about 40 minutes' motorway drive WNW of the Indian Ocean port of East London...
road - 7 January - A grenade is thrown at a Railways policeman in Soweto
- 8 January - A PretoriaPretoriaPretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
sub-station is damaged by an explosion - 9 January - A limpet mineLimpet mineA limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets; they are so named because of their superficial similarity to the limpet, a type of mollusk....
explodes at 21h15 and damages substation in Jacobs, DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, later a second limpet explodes kills a policeman and injures other policemen and two electrical workers who arrive at the scene of the first explosion - 18 January - Two limpet mines damage a sub-station in WestvilleWestville, KwaZulu-NatalWestville is an area near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which is situated 20 km inland from the Durban city centre. Formerly an independent municipality governed by a Town Council, it now forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which also includes Durban...
, Durban - 20 January - A coup d'étatCoup d'étatA coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
led by Major General Justin LekhanyaJustin LekhanyaRetired General Justin Metsing Lekhanya was the prime minister, defense minister and chairman of the military council of Lesotho from January 24 1986 until May 2 1991...
deposes LesothoLesothoLesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
's prime minister Leabua JonathanLeabua JonathanJoseph Leabua Jonathan was the second Prime Minister of Lesotho. He succeeded Chief Sekhonyana Nehemia Maseribane following a by-election and held that post from 1965 to 1986.-Early life and career:...
and re-instates power to King Moshoeshoe IIMoshoeshoe II of LesothoMoshoeshoe II , previously known as Constantine Bereng Seeiso, was the paramount chief of Lesotho, succeeding paramount chief Seeiso from 1960 until the country gained full independence from Britain in 1966...
- African National CongressAfrican National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
members based in Lesotho are deported to ZambiaZambiaZambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
- African National Congress
- 20 January - Four limpet mines damage an electrical pylon near Durban at 20h45. A fifth mine probably aimed at the police and repair crew explodes later with no injuries
- 31 January - State President of South AfricaState President of South AfricaState President, or Staatspresident in Afrikaans, was the title of South Africa's head of state from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1961, and Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be head of state...
Pieter Willem BothaPieter Willem BothaPieter Willem Botha , commonly known as "P. W." and Die Groot Krokodil , was the prime minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and the first executive state president from 1984 to 1989.First elected to Parliament in 1948, Botha was for eleven years head of the Afrikaner National Party and the...
outlines government policy on the restoration of South African citizenship to Blacks in the opening of Parliament
February
- An explosion at a DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
sub-station - At De Deur, a limpet mineLimpet mineA limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets; they are so named because of their superficial similarity to the limpet, a type of mollusk....
causes structural damage to sub-station - A hand grenade explodes in a TranskeiTranskeiThe Transkei , officially the Republic of Transkei , was a Bantustan—an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity—and nominal parliamentary democracy in the southeastern region of South Africa...
minister's official car - 2 February - A soldier and a freedomfighter are killed near Alldays
- 4 February - Four South African ArmySouth African ArmyThe South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
soldiers are injured when a man throws a grenade into their military vehicle at Gugulethu - 9 February - A limpet mine destroys two police vehicles at UmlaziUmlaziUmlazi is a township on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The wider Umlazi area has a population of 750,000. The township is located south-west of Durban....
police station near Durban when parked after returning from riot patrol - 10 February - A large bomb is defused by police in Amanzimtoti, 200 m from where the December 19851985 in South Africa-January:* Three guerrillas and a policeman are killed in a skirmish near Nongoma* 31 January - Pieter Willem Botha, State President of South Africa offers a release proposal to jailed African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela...
blast (for which Andrew Zondo was hanged) took place - 12 February - A pick-up detonates an anti-tankTankA tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
mineLand mineA land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
near MessinaMusinaMusina or Messina is the northernmost town in the Limpopo province of South Africa near the Limpopo River border to Zimbabwe. It has a population of between 20,000 and 40,000. Iron ore, coal, magnetite, graphite, asbestos, diamonds, semi-precious stones and copper are mined in the...
with no injuries - 16 February - A police CasspirCasspirThe Casspir is a landmine-protected personnel carrier that has been in use in South Africa for over 20 years. It is a four wheeled armoured vehicle, used for transport of troops. It can hold a crew of two, plus 12 additional soldiers and associated gear. The Casspir was unique in design when...
detonates an anti-tank land mine in Mamelodi - 17 February - Two policemen and two terrorists are killed while one is arrested in Zwide
- 19 February - Explosion in toilet block near radio control room at the Cambridge East police station causes no injures
March
- Police come under fire at funeral in Dobsonville
- Moses MabhidaMoses MabhidaMoses Mabhida was a South African politician. Mabhida was leader of the South African Communist Party from 1978 until his death in 1986.-Biography:...
, general secretary of the South African Communist Party, dies of a heart attack in MaputoMaputoMaputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, MozambiqueMozambiqueMozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest... - 3 March - Seven black men (The Gugulethu Seven) were killed in a confrontation with police in Gugulethu
- 4 March - An explosion on 3rd floor of the John Vorster Square injures two policemen and two civilians
- 7 March - A limpet mineLimpet mineA limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets; they are so named because of their superficial similarity to the limpet, a type of mollusk....
is found at the HillbrowHillbrow, GautengHillbrow is the inner city residential neighbourhood of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is known for its high levels of population density, unemployment, poverty and crime....
Police Station and is safely detonated by police - 12 March - Esther Masuku, mother of youth activist and SACCSouth African Council of ChurchesThe South African Council of Churches is an interdenominational forum in South Africa. It was a prominent anti-apartheid organisation during the years of apartheid in South Africa. Its leaders have included Desmond Tutu, Beyers Naudé and Frank Chikane....
member Oupa Masuku, is killed in a hand grenade attack on their house in AtteridgevilleAtteridgevilleAtteridgeville, part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, is a township located on the west of Pretoria, South Africa. It is bordered to the west by Saulsville, to the east by Proclamation Hill; to the south by Laudium and to the north by Lotus Gardens.-History:Atteridgeville was...
- - The Eminent Persons GroupEminent Persons GroupAn Eminent Persons Group is a group of prominent individuals appointed by an organisation to investigate a particular issue.Examples include:* ASEAN Eminent Persons Group* Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group...
meets imprisoned African National CongressAfrican National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
leader, Nelson MandelaNelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
.- 15 March - A limpet mine explodes in front of the SpringsSprings, GautengSprings is a city on the East Rand in the Gauteng province of South Africa.It lies 50 km east of Johannesburg. The name of the city derives from the large number of springs in the area; it has a population of more than 200,000, and is situated at 5,340 ft a.s.l...
railway station, one person is seriously injured - 17 March - A mini-limpet is discovered at the Afrikaans high school at Elsburg, GermistonGermiston, GautengGermiston is a city in the East Rand of Gauteng in South Africa. Germiston is now the seat of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality which includes much of the East Rand, and is also considered part of Greater Johannesburg.-History:...
and is safely detonated - 19 March - A car belonging to a special branch policeman is destroyed by a limpet mine
- 15 March - A limpet mine explodes in front of the Springs
- - A bomb blast inside the property of the Springs New Apostolic ChurchNew Apostolic ChurchThe New Apostolic Church is a chiliastic church, converted to Protestantism as a free church from the Catholic Apostolic Church. The church has existed since 1879 in Germany and since 1897 in the Netherlands...
- 21 March - Four mines explode at an EscomEskomEskom is a South African electricity public utility, established in 1923 as the Electricity Supply Commission by the government of South Africa in terms of the Electricity Act . It was also known by its Afrikaans name Elektrisiteitsvoorsieningskommissie . The two acronyms were combined in 1986 and...
sub-station in Durban - 25 March - Trevor ManuelTrevor ManuelTrevor Andrew Manuel is a South African politician, currently serving in the Cabinet of South Africa as Minister in the Presidency in charge of the National Planning Commission...
's ban is lifted - 26 March - A Volsloorus man is killed by police when he allegedly threw grenade at them
- 21 March - Four mines explode at an Escom
April
- 8 April - The home of former Labour Party secretary in Natal, Kevin Leaf is attacked
- 10 April - A person is killed and four injured when a limpet mineLimpet mineA limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets; they are so named because of their superficial similarity to the limpet, a type of mollusk....
explodes at Braamfontein station in JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa... - 18 April - Two people are killed and several others injured when a bomb, set up by Phumzile Mayaphi, explodes at the Wild Coast Casino at BizanaBizana, Eastern CapeBizana is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Mbizana Local Municipality....
in the Eastern Cape Province. Mayaphi is charged and found guilty of murder and sabotage and sentenced to death on 12 May 1989. The African National CongressAfrican National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
denied responsibility for this attack. - 21 April - In the BreytenBreytenBreyten is a small farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa and is situated at the foot of Klipstapel, the highest point on the watershed between the westward flowing Vaal River system and the eastward flowing Olifants and Komati River systems...
/ChrissiesmeerChrissiesmeerChrissiesmeer is a small town situated in a wetland area of Mpumalanga province in South Africa, on the northern banks of the eponymous Lake Chrissie. The San inhabited this area along with the Tlou-tle people who lived on rafts in the larger lakes. The Voortrekkers established a town here in the...
district, two anti-tank landmines detonate, injuring two people in taxi and one tractor driver
- - A terrorist is seriously injured when he and others attack the police in Alexandra, GautengAlexandra, GautengAlexandra or Alex for short, nicknamed Gomora is a township located in Gauteng province, South Africa. It is part of Johannesburg, close to the wealthy suburb of Sandton and is bounded by Wynberg on the west, Marlboro and Kelvin on the north, Kew, Lombardy West and Lombardy East on the south...
- 23 April - An explosion at the Cala post office
- 24 April - An explosion at the Meyerspark post office
- 27 April - Gordon Webster, who was arrested by police is rescued from Edendale hospital by Umkhonto we SizweUmkhonto we SizweUmkhonto we Sizwe , translated "Spear of the Nation," was the armed wing of the African National Congress which fought against the South African apartheid government. MK launched its first guerrilla attacks against government installations on 16 December 1961...
cadres (Robert McBride was one of the cadres). A bystander was killed and the two policemen who were guarding Webster were injured
May
- Police find a 15 kg bomb under a car in downtown Durban and defuse it
- 1 May - Two grenades are thrown at the home of Mr Klein, principal of Wentworth Primary School. Klein and his are wife both injured.
- 7 May - A bomb explosion causes extensive damage to Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre, SandtonSandton, GautengSandton is a wealthy area situated within the metro of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. The name comes from the combination of two of its suburbs, Sandown and Bryanston...
- 25 May - A vehicle hits an anti-tank mine on the farm of Colonel Koos Durr, near DavelDavelDavel is a settlement in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. It is situated next to the N17 highway in the south-west of the province between the larger towns of Bethal and Ermelo.It is also the site of a Sentech VHF transmitter....
. Two people are killed and eight injured - 26 May - A tractor detonates a second anti-tank mine on the farm of Colonel Koos Durr, this time no injuries
June
- A bomb explodes at Jabulani Amphitheatre, SowetoSowetoSoweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
with no injuries - Ten people are killed in explosion in minibus in Bophutatswana
- 5 June - BotswanaBotswanaBotswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, MozambiqueMozambiqueMozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, South Africa and ZimbabweZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
agree to the establishment of the Limpopo Basin Permanent Technical Committee - 10 June - A vehicle hits an anti-tank mine on the farm Boshoek, 5 km from VolksrustVolksrustVolksrust is a town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa on the KwaZulu-Natal provincial border. The town has important beef, dairy, maize, sorghum, wool and sunflower seed industries. It was established near to where the Battle of Majuba, wherein the Transvaal won its independence back...
, and injures one person
- - On another farm, Blomhof, also near Volksrust, an anti-tank mine injures two farmworkers
- 12 June - P. W. Botha regime declares a nationwide state of emergency.
- 14 June - A car bombCar bombA car bomb, or truck bomb also known as a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device , is an improvised explosive device placed in a car or other vehicle and then detonated. It is commonly used as a weapon of assassination, terrorism, or guerrilla warfare, to kill the occupants of the vehicle,...
explodes outside the Magoo's and Why Not bars on the DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
beachfront. The bomb kills three, injures 69. Robert McBride is later sentenced to death for the bombing (but is later granted amnesty by the ANC government and end up in several senior government posts) - 16 June - A probable anti-tank mine explosion kills three BophuthatswanaBophuthatswanaBophuthatswana , officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana was a Bantustan – an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity – and nominal parliamentary democracy in the northwestern region of South Africa...
Defence Force troops in troop carrier in the Winterveldt region - 22 June - Limpet mineLimpet mineA limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets; they are so named because of their superficial similarity to the limpet, a type of mollusk....
s damage fuel storage tanks and a liquid fuel pipeline at the MobilMobilMobil, previously known as the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, was a major American oil company which merged with Exxon in 1999 to form ExxonMobil. Today Mobil continues as a major brand name within the combined company, as well as still being a gas station sometimes paired with their own store or On...
Refinery near Durban
- - A limpet mineLimpet mineA limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets; they are so named because of their superficial similarity to the limpet, a type of mollusk....
explodes at 01h45 outside a Copper Shop on West Street, Durban- 24 June - An explosion at 14h00 injures 16 people at a Wimpy Bar (fast-food restaurant) on Rissik Street, JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
- 27 June - At a police roadblock near the Botswana border four freedomfighters are killed and one policeman injured
- 28 June - An explosion just before 12h00 injures two people in a QueenstownQueenstown, Eastern CapeQueenstown, named after Queen Victoria, is a town in the middle of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, roughly half way in between the towns of Cathcart and Sterkstroom. It is currently the commercial, administrative, and educational centre of the prosperous surrounding farming district...
shopping centre - 29 June - An explosion at the Alice post office
- 30 June - A limpet mine explodes at 03h15 on pedestrian bridge in WestvilleWestville, KwaZulu-NatalWestville is an area near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which is situated 20 km inland from the Durban city centre. Formerly an independent municipality governed by a Town Council, it now forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which also includes Durban...
, Durban and a second limpet aimed at responding policemen explodes 15 minutes later
- 24 June - An explosion at 14h00 injures 16 people at a Wimpy Bar (fast-food restaurant) on Rissik Street, Johannesburg
July
- During a two-hour gun battle in MdantsaneMdantsaneMdantsane is a South African township situated between East London and King William's Town in the Eastern Cape province. It is reputed to be the second largest township in South Africa after Soweto and houses the second biggest shopping mall in the Eastern Cape Province...
, police kill a freedomfighter - 1 July - An explosion outside Carlton Hotel in JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
injures 8 people - 4 July - A limpet mineLimpet mineA limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets; they are so named because of their superficial similarity to the limpet, a type of mollusk....
explodes outside Checkers supermarket in Silverton and injures 20 people - 5 July - An explosion at the Mowbray police station in Cape TownCape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
slightly injures two policemen- One person is injured when their vehicle hits an anti-tank land mine near VolksrustVolksrustVolksrust is a town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa on the KwaZulu-Natal provincial border. The town has important beef, dairy, maize, sorghum, wool and sunflower seed industries. It was established near to where the Battle of Majuba, wherein the Transvaal won its independence back...
- In VosloorusVosloorusVosloorus is a township situated in Boksburg just east of Katlehong on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1963 when Africans were removed from Stirtonville because it was considered by the apartheid government too close to a white town. Stirtonville, renamed Reiger Park,...
and Katlehong, five Development Board officials are killed in two attacks on their vehicles and two terrorists are killed in the return fire
- One person is injured when their vehicle hits an anti-tank land mine near Volksrust
- 6 July - Police kill three freedomfighters and arrest one in Empangeni
- 9 July - Piet Ntuli, Minister of Home Affairs of KwaNdebeleKwaNdebeleKwaNdebele was a bantustan in South Africa, intended by the apartheid government as a semi-independent homeland for the Ndebele people. The homeland was created when the South African government purchased nineteen white-owned farms and installed a government....
, is killed by a car bombCar bombA car bomb, or truck bomb also known as a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device , is an improvised explosive device placed in a car or other vehicle and then detonated. It is commonly used as a weapon of assassination, terrorism, or guerrilla warfare, to kill the occupants of the vehicle,...
explosion in KwaNdebele - 10 July - Explosion injures seven people in Silverton
- Police and members of the South Africa Defence Force ambushed and kill 6 freedomfighters near Alldays
- 22 July - A policeman is killed in Katlehong
- 28 July - Two freedmofighters are killed near NelspruitNelspruitNelspruit is a city of more than 500,000 people situated in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province . Located on the Crocodile River, Nelspruit lies about west of the Mozambique border and east of Johannesburg. The towns of Nelspruit are Kanyamazane and Pienaar...
- 30 July - The UmtataMthathaMthatha is the main town of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town has an airport, previously known by the name K. D. Matanzima Airport after former leader Kaiser Matanzima....
Police station comes under attack. Three policemen and 4 bystanders are killed- A vehicle detonates an anti-tank landmine near Nelspruit
August
- 3 August - An explosion at the Lakeside post office
- 15 August - Later minister of finance Trevor ManuelTrevor ManuelTrevor Andrew Manuel is a South African politician, currently serving in the Cabinet of South Africa as Minister in the Presidency in charge of the National Planning Commission...
is detained for the second time, this time he is only released in 19881988 in South Africa-January:*1 January - Nordic countries implement comprehensive sanctions against South Africa and South West Africa which are intended to counteract apartheid... - 16 August - Four freedomfighers are killed and one injured in the eastern TransvaalTransvaal ProvinceTransvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
, near the SwazilandSwazilandSwaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
border - 17 August - A vehicle detonates an anti-tank landmine on the farm Stellen Rust near NelspruitNelspruitNelspruit is a city of more than 500,000 people situated in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province . Located on the Crocodile River, Nelspruit lies about west of the Mozambique border and east of Johannesburg. The towns of Nelspruit are Kanyamazane and Pienaar...
killing five and injuring two people - 22 August - Inkatha Freedom PartyInkatha Freedom PartyThe Inkatha Freedom Party is a political party in South Africa. Since its founding, it has been led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. It is currently the fourth largest party in the National Assembly of South Africa.-History:...
member Winnington Sabelo comes under grenade attack and Umkhonto we SizweUmkhonto we SizweUmkhonto we Sizwe , translated "Spear of the Nation," was the armed wing of the African National Congress which fought against the South African apartheid government. MK launched its first guerrilla attacks against government installations on 16 December 1961...
fire at car of his wife as she entered the driveway, killing her and injuring 3 children - 24 August - In Imbali, the home of town councillor Austin Kwejama comes under grenadeGrenadeA grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
attack. One child is killed and another is injured
September
- A mini-limpet mine explodes in bar of Devonshire Hotel injuring three people (this was a popular venue for Wits students)
- A grenade is thrown into crowded night club in Edenpark, AlbertonAlberton, GautengAlberton is a town situated on the East Rand of the Gauteng Province in South Africa which celebrated its centenary year in 2005. it had a population of 202,202 inhabitants. It is known as a typical bedroom community, a community primarily residential in character, with most of its workers...
- 1 September - A bomb explodes at the Pick and Pay supermarket in Montclair, DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
and injures 1 person - 7 September - A car bomb explodes not far from The StarThe Star (South Africa)The Star is a daily newspaper based in Gauteng, South Africa. It has a readership of 840 000 and is owned by Independent News & Media. It gained worldwide attention in 2006 when it published survey results according to which about twenty percent of South African men have raped a woman in...
s Seaside Home in Durban which is a holiday home for underprivileged children - 24 September - The home of SowetoSowetoSoweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
Housing Director, Del Kevin, extensively damaged by a limpet mineLimpet mineA limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets; they are so named because of their superficial similarity to the limpet, a type of mollusk.... - 30 September - Northern Natal policeman is injured in an attack
October
- The police station in Newcastle is attacked
- 6 October - Six soldiers are injured when their military vehicle detonates an anti-tank mine at MbuziniMbuziniMbuzini is a village in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. Situated near to the borders of Mozambique and Swaziland. This is where Mozambican president, Samora Machel, and 34 other passengers died in a fatal airplane crash in 1986...
, near the MozambiqueMozambiqueMozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest... - 20 October - A limpet mineLimpet mineA limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets; they are so named because of their superficial similarity to the limpet, a type of mollusk....
explodes outside the Lamontville Police station - 22 October - Two anti-tank landmine explosions
November
- Two offices of PUTCOPUTCOThe Public Utility Transport Corporation provides commuter bus services in Gauteng, Limpopo and the western parts of Mpumalanga in South Africa. PUTCO was established in 1945 after the bus strike of 1944...
is bombed in SowetoSowetoSoweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
after fare increase of 17.5% announced - 2 or 4 November - An anti-tank landmine explosion kills one woman and injures a child near NelspruitNelspruitNelspruit is a city of more than 500,000 people situated in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province . Located on the Crocodile River, Nelspruit lies about west of the Mozambique border and east of Johannesburg. The towns of Nelspruit are Kanyamazane and Pienaar...
- 4 November - A landmine kills a soldier on horseback in the eastern TransvaalTransvaal ProvinceTransvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
- 10 November - Two bombs explode at the Newcastle Magistrates Court injuring 24 people including the Magistrate and Public Prosecutor
- 14 November - A landmine injures a farmer and his son in the Alldays district
- 23 November - A limpet mineLimpet mineA limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets; they are so named because of their superficial similarity to the limpet, a type of mollusk....
explode at Fordsburg flats, new housing for Soweto town councilTown councilA town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
lors
December
- 15 December - A police vehicle detonates an anti-tank mine in the Barberton area injuring the two occupants
- 19 December - An anti-tank landmine injures defence force member in the KomatipoortKomatipoortKomatipoort is a town situated at the confluence of the Crocodile and Komati Rivers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The town is 8km from the Crocodile Bridge Gate into the Kruger Park, and just 5km from the Mozambique border and 65km from the Swazi border. It is a small, quiet town with some...
area
- - A grenade attack on home of Soweto councillor; two policemen injured
- 27 December - Three freedomfighers and two policemen are killed near MessinaMusinaMusina or Messina is the northernmost town in the Limpopo province of South Africa near the Limpopo River border to Zimbabwe. It has a population of between 20,000 and 40,000. Iron ore, coal, magnetite, graphite, asbestos, diamonds, semi-precious stones and copper are mined in the...
- 27 December - Three freedomfighers and two policemen are killed near Messina
Athletics
- 3 May – Zithulele SinqeZithulele SinqeZithulele Sinqe is a South African long distance athlete. In the 1980s, and despite restrictions under Apartheid, Sinqe emerged as one of the leading marathon and half-marathon athletes in the world....
wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:08:04 in Port Elizabeth.
Deaths
- 24 January - Sgt Makhulu, a policeman is killed in grenade attack on his home in Mamelodi
- March - Moses MabhidaMoses MabhidaMoses Mabhida was a South African politician. Mabhida was leader of the South African Communist Party from 1978 until his death in 1986.-Biography:...
dies of a heart attack following a stroke while in exile in MaputoMaputoMaputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its... - 18 March - Constable Sinki Vuma is shot dead at his home in Mamelodi
- 11 April - Peter Nchabeleng, former president of United Democratic FrontUnited Democratic Front (South Africa)The United Democratic Front was one of the most important anti-apartheid organisations of the 1980s. The non-racial coalition of about 400 civic, church, students', workers' and other organisations was formed in 1983, initially to fight the just-introduced idea of the Tricameral Parliament The...
, dies while in police custody in Schoonoord, LebowaLebowaLebowa was a bantustan located in the Transvaal in north eastern South Africa. Seshego initially acted as Lebowa's capital while the purpose-built Lebowakgomo was being constructed. Granted internal self-government on 2 October 1972 and ruled for much of its existence by Cedric Phatudi, Lebowa... - 6 June David Lukhele, former minister of KaNgwaneKaNgwaneKaNgwane was a bantustan in South Africa, intended by the apartheid government to be a semi-independent homeland for the Swazi people. Formerly called the "Swazi Territory", the homeland was granted nominal self-rule in 1981. Schoemansdal was designated as its capital. Its official capital was at...
and his sister-in-law are killed in his home in Mamelodi, while watching television by African National CongressAfrican National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
members, Neo Griffith Potsane, Jabu Obed Masina and Frans "Ting Ting" Masango - 9 October - Lt Victor Raju, a policeman, is killed in a grenade attack on his home in DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
- 19 October - Samora MachelSamora MachelSamora Moisés Machel was a Mozambican military commander, revolutionary socialist leader and eventual President of Mozambique...
, President of MozambiqueMozambiqueMozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, dies when his Tupolev Tu-134Tupolev Tu-134The Tupolev Tu-134 is a twin-engined airliner, similar to the American Douglas DC-9 and the French Sud Aviation Caravelle, and built in the Soviet Union from 1966–1984. The original version featured a glazed-nose design and, like certain other Russian airliners , it can operate from unpaved...
plane crashes in South Africa - 31 October - Detective W/O Seleka is killed in grenade attack on home