Events in the year 2020 in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

Incumbents

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Cyril Ramaphosa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African businessman and politician who is currently serving as the fifth democratically elected president of South Africa. Formerly an anti-apartheid activist, trade union leader, and ...

(

ANC The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election install ...

) *

Deputy President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on t ...

David Mabuza David Dabede "DD" Mabuza (born 25 August 1960) is a South African politician who has been Deputy President of South Africa since February 2018. He was the Deputy President of the African National Congress (ANC) from December 2017 to December 2022 ...

(ANC) * Chief Justice:

Mogoeng Mogoeng Mogoeng Thomas Reetsang Mogoeng (born 14 January 1961) is a South African jurist who served as the Chief Justice of South Africa from 8 September 2011 until his retirement on 11 October 2021. Early life Mogoeng was born on 14 January 1961 in ...

* Deputy Chief Justice:

Raymond Zondo Raymond Mnyamezeli Mlungisi "Ray" Zondo (born 4 May 1960) is a South African judge who is currently serving as Chief Justice of South Africa since 2022. President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Zondo as South Africa's new chief justice with effect f ...

* President of the Supreme Court of Appeal:

Mandisa Maya Mandisa Muriel Lindelwa Maya Mlokoti (born March 20, 1964) is the first female South African Deputy Chief Justice. She is also the first female jurist who has served as President of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa (SCA) since 26 Ma ...

* Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal: Xola Petse * Chairperson of the

Electoral Court of South Africa The Electoral Court is a South African court that oversees the Electoral Commission (EC) and the conduct of elections. It was established by the Electoral Commission Act, 1996 to replace a Special Electoral Court which oversaw the 1994 electi ...

: Khayelihle Kenneth Mthiyane * Speaker of the National Assembly:

Thandi Modise Thandi Modise (born 25 December 1959) is a South African politician who is currently serving as the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. She was previously the Premier of the North West from 2010 to 2014, Chairperson of the National Counci ...

(ANC) * Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly:

Lechesa Tsenoli Solomon Lechesa Tsenoli is a South African politician who currently serves as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa. See also *African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights *Constitution of South Africa *History of the ...

(ANC) *

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...

in the National Assembly:

John Steenhuisen John Henry Steenhuisen (born 25 March 1976) is a South African politician who has served as the leader of the Opposition since October 2019 and has been the federal leader of the Democratic Alliance since November 2020, having served as the in ...

( DA) * Leader of Government Business: David Mabuza (ANC) * Government Chief Whip (of the National Assembly): Pemmy Majodina (ANC) *

Opposition Chief Whip The Chief Whip is a political leader whose task is to enforce the whipping system, which aims to ensure that legislators who are members of a political party attend and vote on legislation as the party leadership prescribes. United Kingdom ...

(of the National Assembly):

Natasha Mazzone Natasha Wendy Anita Mazzone (born 9 May 1979) is a South African politician who served as the Chief Whip of the Official Opposition in the National Assembly of South Africa from October 2019 until August 2022. She has been a Member of the Nat ...

(DA) * Chairperson of the

National Council of Provinces The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) is the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa under the (post-apartheid) constitution which came into full effect in 1997. It replaced the former Senate, but is very similar to that body, and to ma ...

: Amos Masondo (ANC) * Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces:

Sylvia Lucas Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas (born 22 April 1964) is the current Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces in the Republic of South Africa, after having taken office on 23 May 2019. From 2013 to 2019, she served as the 4th Premier of the ...

(ANC) * Leader of the Opposition of the National Council of Provinces: Cathlene Labuschagne (DA) * Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces:

Seiso Mohai Seiso Joel Mohai is a South African politician who is currently the Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). He was first elected to that position after the 2014 general election and he represents the Afric ...

(ANC)

Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filing ...

The Cabinet, together with the

and the

, forms the Executive.

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repre ...
and
National Council of Provinces The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) is the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa under the (post-apartheid) constitution which came into full effect in 1997. It replaced the former Senate, but is very similar to that body, and to ma ...

Provincial Premiers

Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...

Province:

Oscar Mabuyane Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane (born 24 February 1974) is a South African politician who has been serving as the seventh Premier of the Eastern Cape since May 2019. He was previously Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Economic Development, Enviro ...

(

) * Free State Province:

Sisi Ntombela Sefora Hixsonia "Sisi" Ntombela (born 16 April 1957) is a South African politician who is the 6th Premier of the Free State and a Member of the Free State Provincial Legislature. She previously served as the Free State MEC for Cooperative Govern ...

(ANC) *

Gauteng Gauteng ( ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. The name in Sotho-Tswana languages means 'place of gold'. Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts for only ...

Province:

David Makhura Manemolla David Makhura (born 22 February 1968) is a South African politician. He served as the 6th Premier of Gauteng following his election in 2014 until his resignation in October 2022. He was also a member of the Member of the Gauteng Provin ...

(ANC) *

KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...

Province:

Sihle Zikalala Sihle Zikalala (born 6 August 1973) is a South African politician from KwaZulu-Natal who has been a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa since 2023, representing the African National Congress. Before his redeployment to the National P ...

(ANC) *

Limpopo Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while the provincial legislature is ...

Province:

Stanley Mathabatha Chupu Stanley Mathabatha (born 21 January 1957) is a South African politician who is currently the Premier of Limpopo. He was elected to the position in July 2013 after the resignation of Cassel Mathale. He was previously a public servant in L ...

(ANC) *

Mpumalanga Mpumalanga () is a province of South Africa. The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu languages. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique. It ...

Province:

Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane Refilwe Maria Tsipane (born 3 September 1973), known as Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane (alternatively spelt Mtshweni), is a South African politician and a party member of the African National Congress (ANC), who has been serving as the 5th Premier of Mp ...

(ANC) *

North West The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...

Province:

Job Mokgoro Tebogo Job Mokgoro (born 15 May 1948) is a South African politician and academic who served as the 6th Premier of North West from June 2018 until his resignation in August 2021. He was a Member of the North West Provincial Legislature during that ...

(ANC) *

Northern Cape The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of the Kgalagadi T ...

Province:

Zamani Saul Zamani Saul (born 7 March 1972) is a South African politician who is the 5th and current Premier of the Northern Cape and a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature. He has also been serving as the Provincial Chairperson of the African ...

(ANC) *

Western Cape The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020 ...

Province:

Alan Winde Alan Richard Winde (born 18 March 1965) is a South African politician and businessman. He is the 8th and current Premier of the Western Cape, having held the position since 2019. He has been a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament sin ...

( DA)

Events

January to March

*3 February – A court issues an arrest warrant for former president

Jacob Zuma Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan name Msholozi, and was a former anti-aparth ...

on corruption charges. Zuma, 77, is presumed to be in

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

for medical treatment, but it is unclear when or if he will return to South Africa since the two countries have not signed an

extradition Extradition is an action wherein one jurisdiction delivers a person accused or convicted of committing a crime in another jurisdiction, over to the other's law enforcement. It is a cooperative law enforcement procedure between the two jurisdict ...

treaty. The case will resume on May 6. *5 February – German Chancellor

Angela Merkel Angela Dorothea Merkel (; ; born 17 July 1954) is a German former politician and scientist who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. A member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), she previously served as Leader of the Oppo ...

arrives in South Africa to discuss trade, investment, and energy issues. *11 February – Former U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden says he and then U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

Andrew Young Andrew Jackson Young Jr. (born March 12, 1932) is an American politician, diplomat, and activist. Beginning his career as a pastor, Young was an early leader in the civil rights movement, serving as executive director of the Southern Christian L ...

were arrested in

Soweto Soweto () is a township of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for ''South Western Townships''. Formerly a s ...

when they tried to visit

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...

Robben Island Robben Island ( af, Robbeneiland) is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, north of Cape Town, South Africa. It takes its name from the Dutch word for seals (''robben''), hence the Dutch/Afrik ...

in 1977. Young says he was not arrested in South Africa and doubts Biden was. *19 February – Speaking from

Addis Ababa Addis Ababa (; am, አዲስ አበባ, , new flower ; also known as , lit. "natural spring" in Oromo), is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. It is also served as major administrative center of the Oromia Region. In the 2007 census, t ...

, U.S. Secretary of State

Mike Pompeo Michael Richard Pompeo (; born December 30, 1963) is an American politician, diplomat, and businessman who served under President Donald Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United State ...

asserts that land distribution without compensation would be disastrous for South Africa and its people. *21 February – Sixteen children in

Zola Zola may refer to: People * Zola (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * Zola (musician) (born 1977), South African entertainer * Zola (rapper), French rapper * Émile Zola, a major nineteenth-century French writer Plac ...

, Soweto, are hospitalized for eating expired sweets. 39 pupils were hospitalized earlier in the week. *5 March - The

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

spread to

, with the first confirmed case announced on 5 March 2020 by

Minister of Health A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare and other social security services. Some governments have separate ministers for mental health. Coun ...

Zweli Mkhize Zwelini Lawrence Mkhize (born 2 February 1956) is a South African medical doctor and politician who served as the Minister of Health (South Africa), Minister of Health from May 2019 until his resignation on 5 August 2021. He previously served as ...

. *15 March – President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation and announced that there shouldn't be any gathering which is more than 100 people until further notice to avoid the spreading of

. *21 March –

Human Rights Day Human Rights Day is celebrated annually around the world on 10 December every year. The date was chosen to honor the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Right ...

in South Africa *23 March – President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation and announced a 21-day national

lockdown A lockdown is a restriction policy for people, community or a country to stay where they are, usually due to specific risks (such as COVID-19) that could possibly harm the people if they move and interact freely. The term is used for a prison ...

effective from midnight 26 March through to 16 April, with the

deployment Deployment may refer to: Engineering and software Concepts * Blue-green deployment, a method of installing changes to a web, app, or database server by swapping alternating production and staging servers * Continuous deployment, a software en ...

of the

South African National Defence Force The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the Military, armed forces of South Africa. The commander of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the Military branch, armed services. They are in turn a ...

(SANDF) and

South African Police Service The South African Police Service (SAPS) is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1,154 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the provincial borders, and a Provincial Commissioner is appointed in eac ...

(SAPS) to support the government. *27 March – The first person was confirmed to die of COVID-19 case, announced on 27 March 2020 by Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize.

April to June

* 9 April – the President announced a two-week lockdown extension, until the end of April. *18 April – President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that

restrictions will be gradually eased. Mines can resume work at 50% capacity and the economy is expected to contract by 6.1% this year. *19 April –

South African Airways South African Airways (SAA) is the flag carrier airline of South Africa. Founded in 1934, the airline is headquartered in Airways Park at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and operated a hub-and-spoke network, serving ten destin ...

plans to fire all 4,700 employees at the end of April after failing to get any more government subsidies. *23 April – President Ramaphosa's efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic receive praise. South Africa has confirmed 3,953 cases and 75 deaths so far. The government has earmarked 500 billion rand ($26.16 billion), or 10% of national output, to fight the virus, keep businesses afloat and prevent the poor—who make up half the population—from going hungry. South Africa has tested 140,000 people, with nearly 4,000 positive cases and 75 deaths. *26 April **Cuba sends 200 doctors to South Africa. **Police Minister Bheki Cele apologised for a "blasphemous" remark made to praying Muslims by a policeman enforcing coronavirus rules. Twenty-four people were arrested in the incident. *27 April – Freedom Day *1 May **

International Workers' Day International Workers' Day, also known as Labour Day in some countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement and occurs every year on 1 May, ...

**South Africa now enters Level 4 of the national lockdown to ensure the economy can gradually reopen with some easing of other restrictions. *12 June –

Femicide Femicide or feminicide is a hate crime which is broadly defined as "the intentional killing of women or girls because they are female," but definitions of it vary depending on cultural context. In 1976, the feminist author Diana E. H. Russel ...

is described as a second pandemic as more than 20 women and children are murdered in a matter of weeks. *25 May –

Africa Day Africa Day (formerly African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day) is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963. It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent, as well as a ...

*16 June –

Youth Day National Youth Day is a holiday dedicated to the youths of a country. It is observed by 18 countries, on many dates throughout the year. The United Nations agreed on the date of 12 August in 1999 in South Africa. National Youth Day International ...

July to September

*1 July – COVID-19 pandemic: 159,333 confirmed cases and 2,749 deaths. The worst affected area is

. *6 July – COVID-19 pandemic: Thousands of students from grades 7 to 12 return to classes after schools were closed for four months due to the coronavirus. *11 July – COVID-19 pandemic: Confirmed cases doubled in two weeks to 250,000 with 3,800 deaths. Public hospitals are short on medical oxygen. *12 July – Four people are killed, six injured, and forty arrested in a hostage situation at the

International Pentecostal Holiness Church The International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) or simply Pentecostal Holiness Church (PHC) is a Holiness-Pentecostal Christian denomination founded in 1911 with the merger of two older denominations. Historically centered in the Southeaster ...

headquarters in

Zuurbekom Zuurbekom is a town in the Gauteng province, South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along ...

near Johannesburg. *13 July – COVID-19 pandemic: A 9pm to 6pm curfew and a ban on sales of alcohol are reinstituted. Family and social visits remain banned. *22 July - South Africa's oldest pub, The

Perseverance Tavern The Perseverance Tavern, also known as The Percy or Persies, is a public house established in 1808 by Johannes Blesser in Cape Town. At the time of its temporary closure due to the Covid-19 crisis, it was notable for being the oldest pub in Sout ...

, closes due to the COVID-19 lockdown. *23 July – More than 17,000 excess deaths from May 6 to July 14 were reported, as compared to data from the past two years, while confirmed COVID-19 deaths have surpassed 6,000. The South African Medical Research Council said the excess deaths could be related to COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, or tuberculosis, although many doctors suspect coronavirus. South Africa now has the world's fifth largest caseload with 408,052 confirmed cases. *25 August – A fire burns the 139-year-old Grey Street mosque in the

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

, South African. *7 September – Members of the

Economic Freedom Fighters The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is a South African left-wing to far-left pan-Africanist and Marxist–Leninist political party. It was founded by expelled former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) President Julius Malema, and hi ...

force the closing of 60 "Clicks" retail health care stores after the chain displays possible racist ads of hair care products. *8 September – The ANC strongly condemns

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...

's negative remarks about

in '' Disloyal: A Memoir'' by Michael Cohen. “The mark of a true leader is not how many enemies you create but how many friendships you cultivate, even where strong differences of opinion exist,” said the ANC. The

Nelson Mandela Foundation Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

also condemns Trump's remarks. *24 September –

Heritage Day (South Africa) Heritage Day (; ) is a South African public holiday celebrated on 24 September. On this day, South Africans are encouraged to celebrate their culture and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belo ...

October to December

*November 15 – Preacher

Shepherd Bushiri Shepherd Bushiri also known as Major 1 is a Malawian, Christian preacher, self proclaimed prophet, businessman, motivational speaker, and author. Bushiri is on the run in Malawi after skipping bail in South Africa where he faced 8 charges of ra ...

and his wife flee to Malawi to avoid a fraud trial started in South Africa. *November 16 – Former president

testifies before a state commission investigating allegations of corruption from 2009 to 2018. *December 15 –

Ace Magashule Elias Sekgobelo "Ace" Magashule (born 3 November 1959) is a South African politician and former anti-apartheid activist who was Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC) until his suspension on 3 May 2021. He served as the Premier ...

is asked to step down from the African National Congress after being charged with 21 counts of corruption. *December 18 – COVID-19 pandemic: Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize said scientists had discovered a new variant of virus, called 501.V2 Variant. Nearly 900,000 South Africans have been infected and 20,000 have died. *December 27 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases passes one million.

Scheduled events

*16 December – Day of Reconciliation *26 December –

Day of Goodwill Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday. It ...

Sports

*29 November 2019 to 1 February 2020 – 2019–20 CAF Champions League group stage *1 December 2019 to 2 February 2020 – 2019–20 CAF Confederation Cup group stage *17 January to 9 February – 2020 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup *20 to 23 April 2020 – 2020 IIHF World Championship Division III, Cape Town *May TBA – Finals of 2020 African U-17 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament Began January 2020 *21 June – Finals of 2020 African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament *18 July – The 3TC Solidarity Cup, a charity cricket match with an experimental 3 team format, was played. It marked the return to cricket in the country following the easing of coronavirus related restrictions. *8 August to 27 September –

2020 Rugby Championship The 2020 Tri Nations Series was the seventeenth edition of the annual southern hemisphere competition, involving Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. On 16 October 2020, 2019 Rugby Championship winners and 2019 Rugby World Cup champions South A ...

, featuring

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, South Africa and

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. *5 October to 12 October – 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification — CAF Second Round *13 October – 2020 MEA Rugby League Championship, Pretoria

Television

*14 March – Scheduled date for the 2020 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards

Deaths

January to March

*6 January – Richard Maponya, 99, entrepreneur and property developer (b. 1920). *18 January – Peter Mathebula, WBA flyweight champion boxer (b. 1952). *20 January – Bicks Ndoni, politician (b. 1958). *26 January –

Santu Mofokeng Santu Mofokeng (October 19, 1956 – January 26, 2020) was a South African news and documentary photographer who worked under the alias ''Mofokengâ''. Mofokeng was a member of the Afrapix collective and won a Prince Claus Award.Prince Claus Fund ...

, 64, South African photographer,

progressive supranuclear palsy Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a late-onset degenerative disease involving the gradual deterioration and death of specific volumes of the brain. The condition leads to symptoms including loss of balance, slowing of movement, difficulty ...

. * 7 February –

Harold Strachan Robert Harold Lundie "Jock" Strachan (1 December 1925 – 7 February 2020) was a white South African writer and anti-apartheid activist. He flew for the South African Air Force during the Second World War, trained as an artist, then became Umkho ...

, 94, South African writer and anti-apartheid activist. *11 February –

Joseph Shabalala Joseph Shabalala (28 August 1940 – 11 February 2020), was a South African singer and musician who was the founder and musical director of the choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Early life and career Shabalala was born in the town of ...

, 78, founder of

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of ''isicathamiya'' and '' mbube''. They became known internationally after singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album ''Graceland'', and have won m ...

*20 February –

Zoe Gail Zoe Gail (20 February 1920 – 20 February 2020) was a South African-born British-American actress. Early life Gail was born Zoe Margaret Stapelton in Cape Town, Cape Province, Union of South Africa. She was an actress known for Tonight at th ...

, 100, South African-born British singer and actress ('' No Orchids for Miss Blandish''). *26 February –

Clinton Marius Clinton Marius (20 August 1966 – 26 February 2020) was a South African writer and performer. He was born in Pietermaritzburg, and made his first professional appearance singing the lead role in Gian Carlo Menotti, Menotti's opera, ''Amahl an ...

, 53, writer and performer. *11 March –

Mohammed Tikly Mohammed Tikly (7 July 1939, Pietersburg (now Polokwane) - 11 March 2020, Johannesburg) was a South African educator and struggle veteran. A member of the ANC, he spent over thirty years in exile in the UK, Tanzania and Zambia. He was a former dir ...

, 80, South African educator and struggle veteran. *21 March –

Sol Kerzner Solomon Kerzner, (23 August 1935 – 21 March 2020) was a South African accountant and business magnate. He founded both of South Africa's largest hotel groups, the Southern Sun Hotel Group and Sun International. He was also the Founder, Chai ...

, 84, hotelier, founder of

Southern Sun Hotel Group Southern Sun is a South African multinational hospitality company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa and listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The group was founded in 1969 by hotelier Sol Kerzner and South African Breweries. ...

and Sun International, cancer. *25 March –

Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa (21 July 1921 – 25 March 2020) was a Zulu sangoma (traditional healer) from South Africa. He was known as an author of books that draw upon African mythology, traditional Zulu folklore, extraterrestrial encounters ...

, 98, South African traditional healer and conspiracy theorist. *31 March –

Gita Ramjee Gita Ramjee (née Parekh; 8 April 1956 – 31 March 2020) was a Ugandan-South African scientist and researcher in HIV prevention. In 2018, she was awarded the ‘Outstanding Female Scientist’ award from the European and Developing Countries ...

, 63, HIV prevention researcher;

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

April to June

*3 April –

Constand Viljoen General Constand Laubscher Viljoen, (28 October 1933 – 3 April 2020) was a South African military commander and politician. He co-founded the Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front) and later founded the Freedom Front (now Fre ...

, 86, military general and politician, MP (1994–2001). *17 April –

Allan Heyl George Allan Heyl (died April 17, 2020) was a South African criminal, member of the Stander Gang. Heyl met his accomplices André Stander and Lee McCall in 1977, while they were in prison together (Heyl had been sentenced in 1977 for an earlie ...

, convicted bank robber (

Stander Gang Stander may refer to: * Standing frame for assisting the physically challenged * Stander (surname) *Stander (film) ''Stander'' is a 2003 South African biographical film directed by Bronwen Hughes, about Captain André Stander, a South African ...

) *29 April –

Denis Goldberg Denis Theodore Goldberg (11 April 1933 – 29 April 2020) was a South African social campaigner, who was active in the struggle against apartheid. He was accused No. 3 in the Rivonia Trial, alongside the better-known Nelson Mandela and Walter ...

, 87, South African lawyer and political activist (

Rivonia Trial The Rivonia Trial took place in South Africa between 9 October 1963 and 12 June 1964, and led to the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela and the others among the accused who were convicted of sabotage and sentenced to life at the Palace of Justice ...

), lung cancer. *4 May –

Cedric Xulu Cedric "Sugar Ray" Xulu (13 December 1939 – 4 May 2020) was a South African Association football, footballer. Career Xulu was a footballer whose career in the 1960s led him to play for local side AmaZulu F.C. (South Africa), AmaZulu and Mbaba ...

, 80, South African footballer (

AmaZulu F.C. AmaZulu Football Club (Simply often known as AmaZulu) is a South African professional soccer club based in the city of Durban in the KwaZulu Natal province, that plays in the Premier Soccer League the first-tier of South African football l ...

), cancer. *11 May – Ewie Cronje, 80, South African cricketer. *12 May -

Clarence Mini Clarence Mazwangwandile Mini (6 November 1951 – 12 May 2020) was a South African doctor, anti-apartheid activist, freedom fighter, human rights activist. Mini was regarded as a pioneer of the Health in South Africa, medical industry in South A ...

, 68, South African doctor, anti-apartheid fighter, COVID-19. *19 May – Mary-Anne Plaatjies van Huffel, 60, South African pastor and academic; complications from surgery *2 June – Jeanne Goosen, 81, South African writer. *12 June – Kirvan Fortuin, 28, South African dancer, choreographer and LGBTQI activist, stabbed. *14 June –

Elsa Joubert Elsabé Antoinette Murray Joubert OIS (19 October 1922 – 14 June 2020) was a Sestigers Afrikaans-language writer. She rose to prominence with her novel '' Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena'' (The Long Journey of Poppie Nongena), which was tra ...

, 97, South African

Sestigers The Sestigers (Sixtiers), also known as the Beweging van Sestig (the movement of sixty), were a group of influential resistant Afrikaans-language writers in the 1960s started by André Brink and Breyten Breytenbach, which also included Reza de W ...

writer, COVID-19. *24 June –

Nigel Weiss Nigel Oscar Weiss FRS (16 December 1936 – 24 June 2020) was an astronomer and mathematician, and leader in the field of astrophysical and geophysical fluid dynamics. He was Emeritus Professor of Mathematical Astrophysics at the University ...

, 83, mathematician. *30 June – David Lewis, 98, South African born American urban designer, co-founder of

Urban Design Associates Urban Design Associates (UDA; formerly known as UDA Architects) is an international urban design and architecture firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. History Urban Design Associates (UDA) was founded in 1964 by David Lew ...

July to September

*4 July –

Mary Twala Mary Kuksie Twala (14 September 1939 – 4 July 2020) was a South African actress. In 2011, she was nominated for Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Career Twala featured in several South African local productio ...

, actress (2011 Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role) *6 July **

Gordon Kegakilwe Mothibedi Gordon Kegakilwe (1 April 1967 – 6 July 2020) was a South African politician and a party member of the African National Congress. He served as the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs fro ...

, 53, politician; COVID-19. **

Zithulele Patrick Mvemve Zithulele Patrick Mvemve (31 May 1941 – 6 July 2020) was a South African Roman Catholic bishop. Mvemve was born in Evaton, South Africa, and educated at St Martin de Porres High School in Soweto. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1969; ...

, 79, Roman Catholic prelate, Auxiliary Bishop of

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...

(1986–1994) and Bishop of

Klerksdorp Klerksdorp () is located in the North West Province, South Africa. Klerksdorp, the largest city in the North West Province, is located southeast of Mahikeng, the provincial capital. Klerksdorp was also the first capital of the then Transvaal Repub ...

(1994–2013). *7 July – Henry Jansen, 64, politician, Mayor of

Langeberg The Langeberg Range is a mountain range in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its highest peak is Keeromsberg at 2,075 m that lies 15 km northeast of the town of Worcester. Some of the highest peaks of the range are located just to ...

; COVID-19. * 8 July **

Ricardo Mthembu Njabulo Ricardo Mthembu (1970 – 8 July 2020) was a South African politician. Career He was a member of the African National Congress and a representative of the party in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature from 2019 to 2020. Mthembu served on the l ...

, Member of the

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature is the primary legislative body of the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. It is unicameral in its composition and elects the premier and the provincial cabinet from among the leading party or coalition members i ...

and ANC provincial spokesperson; COVID-19. ** Queen

Noloyiso Sandile Queen (iKumkanikazi) Noloyiso Sandile (born: Nomusa kaBhekuzulu Zulu; 24 July 1963 – 8 July 2020) was a South African Royal. Biography Early life Princess Nomusa kaBhekuzulu was the daughter of the then Zulu King Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolo ...

, 56, acting Queen of AmaRharhabe; COVID-19. ** Louis Mazibuko, 69, sports journalist. *9 July – Patricia Majalisa, 53, singer; heart attack. *10 July ** Corra Dirksen, 82, rugby player (

Northern Transvaal Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a r ...

national team A national sports team (commonly known as a national team or a national side) is a team that represents a nation, rather than a particular club or region, in an international sport. The term is most commonly associated with team sports, for exam ...

); COVID-19. ** Thomas Manthata, 80, anti-Apartheid activist (

Delmas Treason Trial The Delmas Treason Trial (1985–1988) in South Africa was the prosecution of 22 anti-apartheid activists under security laws, with the intention of suppressing the United Democratic Front (UDF).Gerhard, Gail"Trial by Color" ''New York Times ...

); COVID-19. *12 July – Alfred Mtsi, 69, politician, Mayor of Buffalo City (2015–2016), COVID-19. *13 July –

Zindzi Mandela Zindziswa "Zindzi" Mandela (23 December 196013 July 2020), also known as Zindzi Mandela-Hlongwane, was a South African diplomat and poet, and the daughter of anti-apartheid activists and politicians Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. ...

, 59, diplomat and poet, daughter of

*18 July **

Elize Cawood Elize Cawood (28 June 1952 – 18 July 2020) was a South African actress. Her most famous TV role is probably that of Pop in ''Verspeelde lente'' (1984) and on the silver screen opposite Marius Weyers and Peter Sepuma as the rich Afrikaner woman ...

, 68, actress (''

Dis ek, Anna ' is a 2015 South African Afrikaans-language drama produced by based on novels by (writing as ): ' (''It's me, Anna'') and ' (''The State vs ''). Set in modern-day South Africa, it tells the story of , who avenges years of abuse suffered at th ...

''). **

Ismail Ebrahim Ismail "Baboo" Ebrahim (5 November 1946 – 18 July 2020) was a South African cricketer. A slow left-arm orthodox spin bowler, Ebrahim played 48 first-class matches and two List A matches, mostly for Natal, between 1971 and 1984. He played ...

, 73, cricketer (

Natal NATAL or Natal may refer to: Places * Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, a city in Brazil * Natal, South Africa (disambiguation), a region in South Africa ** Natalia Republic, a former country (1839–1843) ** Colony of Natal, a former British colony ( ...

). ** Martha Mmola, South African politician, MP (2014–2019); COVID-19. *21 July –

Andrew Mlangeni Andrew Mokete Mlangeni (6 June 192521 July 2020), also known as Percy Mokoena, Mokete Mokoena, and Rev. Mokete Mokoena, was a South African political activist and anti-apartheid campaigner who, along with Nelson Mandela and others, was imprison ...

, 95, politician, anti-Apartheid activist and the last

st. *28 July **

Candy Moloi Candy, also called sweets (British English) or lollies (Australian English, New Zealand English), is a confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient. The category, called ''sugar confectionery'', encompasses any sweet confection, in ...

, 67, actress (''

Muvhango ''Muvhango'' is a South African television soap opera, created by Duma Ndlovu. It is broadcast on the public TV channel SABC 2, and has an average of 4 million daily viewers. The first episode was aired on 7 April 1997. It was the first Tshive ...

''), cancer. ** Diana E. H. Russell, 81, feminist activist and writer. *31 July –

Zamuxolo Peter Zamuxolo Joseph Peter (10 January 1965 – 31 July 2020) was a South African politician who served as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa, National Assembly from May 2019 until his death in July 2020. He was the mayor of the Makana ...

, 55, politician, MP (since 2019); COVID-19. *6 August –

John Nkadimeng John Kgwana Nkadimeng (12 June 1927 – 6 August 2020) was a South African politician, anti-apartheid activist and South African ambassador in Cuba. Nkadimeng was awarded the Order of Luthuli in 2003 by President Thabo Mbeki and Isitwalandwe in ...

, 93, politician and anti-Apartheid activist. *7 August –

Lungile Pepeta Lungile Pepeta (1974 – 7 August 2020) was a South African paediatric cardiologist, medical researcher, university professor and activist who also served as the chairperson of the Council of Medical Schemes. Lungile was regarded as one of the ...

, 46, paediatric cardiologist and academic. *10 August -

Bob Mabena Bob, BOB, or B.O.B. may refer to: Places *Mount Bob, New York, United States *Bob Island, Palmer Archipelago, Antarctica People, fictional characters, and named animals *Bob (given name), a list of people and fictional characters *Bob (surname) ...

, 51, radio personality; cardiac arrest. *12 August –

Mac Jack McCollen Ntsikelelo Jack (8 March 196512 August 2020), known as Mac Jack, was a South African educator and politician. A member of the African National Congress, Jack was appointed to the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature in June 2013. He se ...

, 55, politician, Northern Cape MPL (since 2013); COVID-19. *26 August –

Stuart Hailstone Stuart Hailstone (12 April 1962 – 26 August 2020) was a South African squash player, representing South Africa and Scotland. He reached 14th place in the world in 1987, his best career ranking. He was Champion of South Africa three times betwee ...

, 68, squash player; stroke. *29 August – Jürgen Schadeberg, 89, German-born South African photographer; stroke. *4 September ** Peter Cronjé, 70, rugby union player (

Golden Lions The Golden Lions (currently known as the Sigma Golden Lions for sponsorship reasons) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Johannesburg who compete in the annual Currie Cup and Rugby Challenge. The team is governed by the ...

); cancer. **

Gregory de Vink Gregory de Vink (6 July 1998 – 4 September 2020) was a South African racing cyclist. Biography In 2015, de Vink became the champion of the Junior African Road Championships in road race and time trial. He also won the South African National Ti ...

, 22, racing cyclist; traffic collision. *5 September – Thandeka Mdeliswa, 34, actress ('' Generations: The Legacy'', ''

Isidingo ''Isidingo'' is a South African soap opera, with dialogue mostly in English and isiXhosa. The series premiered on SABC 3 in July 1998 and was broadcast evenings on SABC 3 from Monday to Friday at 19:00. Until 2001 it was titled ''Isidingo: The ...

'', '' Rhythm City''); shot. *6 September –

Achmat Dangor Achmat Dangor (2 October 1948 – 6 September 2020) was a South African writer, poet, and development professional. His most important works include the novels ''Kafka's Curse'' (1997) and ''Bitter Fruit'' (2001). He was also the author of three ...

, 71, author and political activist. *8 September – David Clatworthy, 60, actor ('' The Making of the Mahatma'', ''

District 9 ''District 9'' is a 2009 science fiction mockumentary film directed by Neill Blomkamp in his feature film debut, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. It is a co-production of New Zeala ...

'', ''

Mia et le lion blanc ''Mia and the White Lion'' (french: Mia et le lion blanc) is a 2018 family adventure film directed by Gilles de Maistre. The film stars Daniah de Villiers, Mélanie Laurent, and Langley Kirkwood. The film was released in France on December 26, ...

''). *9 September –

George Bizos George Bizos ( el, Γιώργος Μπίζος; 14 November 19279 September 2020) was a Greek-South African human rights lawyer who campaigned against apartheid in South Africa. He was noted for representing Nelson Mandela during the Rivonia T ...

, 92, human rights lawyer (

) and anti-apartheid activist.

October to December

*8 October –

David Ipp David Andrew Ipp (1938 – 8 October 2020) was a South African-born Australian lawyer, judge and Commissioner of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption between 2009 and 2014. Ipp was a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Cou ...

, 82, South African-born Australian lawyer and judge. *10 October –

Priscilla Jana Devikarani Priscilla Sewpal Jana (5 December 194310 October 2020) was a South African human rights lawyer, politician and diplomat of Indian descent. As a member of the African National Congress (ANC) during the anti-apartheid movement, she par ...

, 76, lawyer and human rights activist. *12 October – Vuyokazi Mahlati, social entrepreneur. *14 October –

Herbert Kretzmer Herbert Kretzmer (5 October 192514 October 2020) was a South African-born English journalist and lyricist. He was best known as the lyricist for the English-language musical adaptation of ''Les Misérables'' and for his long-time collaboration ...

, 95, South African-born English journalist and lyricist (''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original ...

''). *20 October – Gerrit Schoonhoven, 62, film director and actor (''

Sweet 'n Short ''Sweet 'n Short'' is a 1991 in film, 1991 Leon Schuster movie made in South Africa. It was directed by Gray Hofmeyr. Plot In South Africa, Sweet Coetzee wins an award for 20 years service as a sportscaster on his 40th birthday, beating his ...

'', '' The Visual Bible: Matthew'', '' The Mangler''). *22 October – Stephen Gray, 78, writer ('' Time of Our Darkness''). *27 October – Rolf Stumpf, 74, statistician, Vice Chancellor of

Nelson Mandela University Nelson Mandela University (formerly known as ''Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU)'' ) and before that - the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE), the Port Elizabeth Technikon and Vista University's Port Elizabeth campus. This South Afr ...

(since 2002). *6 November – Mluleki Ndobe, 46, politician, member of the

(since 2019), suicide by gunshot. *11 November ** Mongameli Bobani, South African politician, mayor of

Nelson Mandela Bay Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality ( af, Nelson Mandelabaai Metropolitaanse Munisipaliteit; xh, uMasipala wase Nelson Mandela Bay or ''uMasipala waseBhayi'') is one of eight metropolitan municipalities (also called Category A municipalities) in So ...

(2018–2019), COVID-19. ** Thembekile Kimi Makwetu, 54, South African accountant,

Auditor-General A comptroller (pronounced either the same as ''controller'' or as ) is a management-level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization. A financial comptroller is a senior-level execut ...

(since 2013), lung cancer. *15 November –

Anne Rasa Olwen Anne Elisabeth Rasa (1940 – 15 November 2020) was a British ethologist, known for her long-duration study of the social behaviour of the dwarf mongoose in Kenya. She had studied aggression among coral reef fish under the pioneering etho ...

, 80, British-born ethologist. *18 November –

Christine Barkhuizen le Roux Christine Barkhuizen le Roux (18 November 1959 – 18 November 2020) was a South African Afrikaans writer of poems, novels and short stories. A Bachelor of Arts English, Psychology and Theology graduate of Stellenbosch University, she made her deb ...

, 61, writer *19 November – Mshoza, 37,

kwaito Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, during the 1990s. It is a variant of house music that features the use of African sounds and samples. Kwaito songs occur at a slower tempo range than other styles of h ...

singer. *23 November – Anele Ngcongca, 33, footballer ( FC Fortune,

Genk Genk () is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality located in the Belgian Provinces of Belgium, province of Limburg (Belgium), Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the town of Genk itself. I ...

); traffic collision. *5 December – Belinda Bozzoli, politician, MP (since 2014), cancer. *7 December – Pumza Dyantyi, 72, politician and anti-apartheid activist, MP (since 2019) and Eastern Cape MPL (2014–2019). *9 December – Gordon Forbes, 86, tennis player; COVID-19. *12 December – Motjeka Madisha, 25, footballer ( Highlands Park F.C.,

Mamelodi Sundowns Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club (simply known as Sundowns) is a South African professional football club based in Mamelodi, Pretoria in the Gauteng province that plays in the Premier Soccer League, the first tier of South African football l ...

); traffic collision. *23 December –

Loyiso Mpumlwana Loyiso Khanyisa Bunye Mpumlwana (died 23 December 2020) was a South African politician and advocate. A member of the African National Congress, he was elected to the National Assembly in 2014. He served until the 2019 election, when he lost his s ...

, politician, advocate and MP (2014–2019; since 2020).

References

External links

Coronavirus in South Africa: Deciding who lives and dies in a Cape Town township
{{Africa topic, 2020 in 2020s in South Africa Years of the 21st century in South Africa

Incumbents

Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filing ...

Provincial Premiers

Events

January to March

April to June

July to September

October to December

Scheduled events

Sports

Television

Deaths

January to March

April to June

July to September

October to December

See also

Country overviews

Related timelines for current period

References

External links