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TIMELINE: SOUTH AFRICA 1976-1994

1976
Riots break out in Soweto on June 16 and spread to the rest of the country.

1977
UN Security Council imposes mandatory arms embargo against SA.
Steve Biko dies in detention following police brutality.
A number of political organizations and newspapers are banned on October 19.

1978
BJ Vorster resigns as Prime Minister as a consequence of the Information Scandal’ and is succeeded by PW Botha.

1979
Azanian People’s Organisation (Azapo) formed.

1980
Senate abolished, replaced by President’s Council.

1983
White referendum approves PW Botha’s “reform”, extending separate racial franchise to coloured and Indian minorities.
United Democratic Front (UDF) is launched.

1984
Tricameral Parliament is established with separate assemblies for whites, coloureds and Asians.
PW Botha becomes executive state president.

1985
Congress of Trade Unions (Cosatu) formed.

1986
US Congress imposes sanctions against South Africa.
Mixed Marriages Act, influx control and pass laws are scrapped.

1989
Declaration signed, setting Out the ANC’s pre-­negotiating position.
PW Botha and Nelson Mandela meet face to face for the first time
PW Botha resigns as State President. The NP, under his successor FW de Klerk, wins the general election. De Klerk becomes State President.
Walter Sisulu and seven other long-term political prisoners are released. 

1990

February
ANC, PAC and the South African Communist Party (SACP) are unbanned.
Nelson Mandela released on February 11 after 27 years in prison.

March
Namibia gains independence.

May
The Groote Schuur Minute signed, paving the way for negotiations on majority rule.

June
Separate Amenities Act repealed.

August
Pretoria Minute signed. The ANC suspends armed struggle.

December
Amnesty extended to political prisoners.

1991
Government and ANC agree on all-party congress to discuss negotiations and constitutional principles.

June
1913 and 1936 Land Acts, Group Areas Act, Population Registration Act and other apartheid laws repealed

September
National Peace Accord signed

December
Declaration of Intent signed at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa)

1992

March
Whites-only referendum endorses the government’s reform process.

June
39 people killed in a massacre in Boipatong. ANC suspends talks with the government.

September
Record of Understanding signed, agreeing to a democratically elected interim government of national unity.

1993

January
Own affairs’ administrations phased out.

April
Negotiations resume at Codesa, with 26 parties participating.
Chris Hani is assassinated.

May
Afrikaner Volksfront formed to negotiate self-determination for Afrikaners.

August
Compulsory white national service scrapped.

September
Transitional Executive Council Bill passed.

October
UN lifts sanctions.

November
Transitional constitution providing for non-racial multiparty democracy, three tiers of government and a justifiable Bill of rights in a unitary South Africa is accepted.

December
South Africa’s new constitution is enacted by parliament signaling the end of apartheid and the birth of the new South Africa.

1994

January
More than seven million people in the homelands regain their South African citizenship.

March
South Africa hands over Walvis Bay to Namihia.

April
ANC wins the country’s first non-racial election.

May
Nelson Mandela inaugurated as SA’s first democratically-elected president on May 10. South Africa joins the OAU and the NAM.
UN Security Council lifts arms embargo

June
South Africa rejoins Commonwealth; reclaims its seat in the UN General Assembly.

August
Constitutional Assembly meets to begin drawing up South Africa’s final constitution.

December
SA rejoins UNESCO after 40 years