South Africa

By Breann Farrington
  • Period: to

    South Africa

  • Republic

    Republic
    South Africa became a republic.

  • GLAA

    GLAA
    The General Law Amendment Act allowed the government to hold people for consecutive 90-day periods without trial (the length was decreased to 15 days in 1966)

  • Confrontations

    Confrontations
    The worst domestic confrontation since Sharpeville took place in Soweto, on the outskirts of Johannesburg, where blacks violently protested the compulsory use of Afrikaans in schools. Suppression of the riots by South African police left at least 174 blacks dead and 1,139 injured

  • Civil conflict

    Civil conflict
    South African troops joined the Angolan civil conflict in an attempt to prevent a Soviet-backed faction from coming to power. Unsuccessful, the troops withdrew.

  • Police custody

    Police custody
    30-year-old Steven Biko, died while in police custody. He spearheaded the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa.

  • Arrest and Detention

    Arrest and Detention
    A new, nationwide state of emergency was imposed, with police and the military exercising extraordinary powers of arrest and detention. At least 4,000 and possibly as many as 10,000 people were detained, including over 1,400 aged 18 or under.

  • Resignation

    Resignation
    President P.W. Botha resigned as head of the NP after a mild stroke in January. He was replaced by F. W. de Klerk who, on 15 August, was also named acting state president.

  • Fighting

    Fighting
    The government, the ANC, and Inkatha signed a pact to end factional fighting.

  • Protesters

    Protesters
    24 ANC supporters were killed by the Ciskei army troops as they marched in protest on the homeland's capital.

  • Flag

    Flag
    The flag of South Africa was adopted.

  • Court case

    Court case
    Testimony in a court case also linked death squads to the highest levels of government, including the prime minister's office.

  • Gay marriage legalized

    Gay marriage legalized
    Same-sex marriage became legal in South Africa.

  • Integration

    Integration
    South Africa has become increasingly integrated into the international system, and foreign investment has increased dramatically. Still, the economic disparities between population groups are expected to persist for many years, remaining an area of priority for the government.

  • Security

    Security
    South Africa was awarded a non permanent seat on the UN Security Council