1991 in South Africa
Encyclopedia
January
- 9 January - Black children are admitted to schools previously reserved for Whites only.
- 12 January - 45 mourners are killed during an attack on a funeralFuneralA funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
vigil for an 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...
member - 13 January - 45 football fans die in the Orkney Stadium DisasterOrkney Stadium DisasterThe Orkney Stadium Disaster at the Oppenheimer Stadium in the city of Orkney, North West Province, South Africa was the second worst sporting incident in South African history, with 42 deaths....
in the Oppenheimer StadiumOppenheimer StadiumOppenheimer Stadium is a football stadium in Orkney, South Africa. It currently has a capacity of 23,000, but that will be increased to 40,000 for the 2010 Football World Cup....
in Orkney. - 29 January - Frederik Willem de KlerkFrederik Willem de KlerkFrederik Willem de Klerk , often known as F. W. de Klerk, is the former seventh and last State President of apartheid-era South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994...
, 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...
, 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...
, deputy-president of 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...
, and Mangosuthu ButheleziMangosuthu ButheleziInkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi is a South African Zulu politician who founded the Inkatha Freedom Party in 1975 and continues to lead the party today.His praise name is Shenge.-Early life:...
, leader of the 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:...
, meet for peace talks.
February
- 1 February - At the signing of a national peace accord Frederik Willem de KlerkFrederik Willem de KlerkFrederik Willem de Klerk , often known as F. W. de Klerk, is the former seventh and last State President of apartheid-era South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994...
, 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...
, promises to end all apartheid legislation and to create a new multi racial constitutionConstitutionA constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
.
March
- 12 March - The government tables a white paper to end racial discrimination in landownership and occupation.
- 24 March - 12 people, including a police officer and two children, are killed when police opened fire on a crowd of 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...
supporters when they attacked the police in Daveyton, GautengDaveyton, GautengDaveyton is a township in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Gauteng in South Africa. It borders Etwatwa to the north, Springs to the east, Benoni to the south, and Boksburg to the West. The nearest town is Benoni, which is 18 kilometres away...
.
May
- 14 May - Winnie Madikizela-MandelaWinnie Madikizela-MandelaWinnie Madikizela-Mandela is a South African politician who has held several government positions and headed the African National Congress Women's League. She is currently a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee...
is found guilty and sentenced to 6 years for her involvement in the death of 14-year old Stompie MoeketsiStompie MoeketsiJames Seipei , also known as Stompie Moeketsi, was a teenage African National Congress activist from Parys in South Africa...
.
July
- 2–6 July - The 48th National Conference of 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...
is held 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...
, the first to be held inside South Africa since 19591959 in South Africa-December:* 5 April - Pan-Africanist Congress led by Robert Sobukwe secede from the African National Congress* 9 July - The record for the London-Cape Town flight is set by Wing Commander MJ Beetham flying a Royal Air Force Vickers Valiant, completing the journey in 11 hours 27 minutes* 12 December...
. - 9 July - Suspension of South Africa from the International Olympic CommitteeInternational Olympic CommitteeThe International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
is lifted.
August
- 4 August - The OceanosOceanosMTS Oceanos was a French-built and Greek-owned cruise ship which sank off South Africa's eastern coast on 4 August 1991. Launched in July 1952 by Forges Chantiers de la Gironde in Bordeaux as the Jean Laborde, it was the last of four sister ships built for Messageries Maritimes. The ships were used...
, a Greek owned cruise ship, sinks off Coffee BayCoffee BayCoffee Bay is a small community of interest in Wild Coast, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It is about 250 kilometres south of the city of Durban. It has a population of approximately 600 people.-References:...
, Eastern CapeEastern CapeThe Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
. - 9 August - Right-wingers of the Afrikaner WeerstandsbewegingAfrikaner WeerstandsbewegingThe Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging is a South African far right separatist political and former paramilitary organization, since its creation dedicated to secessionist Afrikaner nationalism and the creation of an independent Boer-Afrikaner republic or "" in part of South Africa...
clash with the police in the Battle of VentersdorpBattle of VentersdorpThe Battle of Ventersdorp on 9 August 1991 was a violent confrontation in the South African town of Ventersdorp between right wing supporters of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging and the South African Police and security forces...
.
September
- 4 September - Frederik Willem de KlerkFrederik Willem de KlerkFrederik Willem de Klerk , often known as F. W. de Klerk, is the former seventh and last State President of apartheid-era South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994...
, 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...
, announces a new constitution that will provide suffrage for black people.
October
- 2 October - Pik BothaPik BothaRoelof Frederik "Pik" Botha is a former South African politician who served as the country's foreign minister in the last years of the apartheid era...
, Minister of Foreign Affairs, visits Beijing to strengthen the South Africa's relations with China.
Unknown date
- The Phinda Resource ReservePhinda Resource ReservePhinda Resource Reserve is a 170 km² private game reserve situated in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between the Mkuze Game Reserve and the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park.Formed in 1991, this ethnically named reserve means "return to the wild"...
is formed.
the great white shark is given full protection under South African law
Athletics
- 20 July – Joseph Skosana wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:10:29 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...
.
Deaths
- 25 February - Chief Mhlabunzima Maphumulo is shot dead outside his home in PietermaritzburgPietermaritzburgPietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
by an alleged hit-squad.