Events in the year 2021 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 installe ...

) *

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 May ...

* 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 ...

: Boissie Henry Mbha * 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 Pemmy Castelina Pamela Majodina (born 24 December 1968) is a South African politician serving as a Member of the National Assembly since 2019. A member of the African National Congress, she is the party's chief whip in the assembly. She was forme ...

(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 Nkosiyakhe Amos Masondo (born 21 April 1953 in Louwsburg) is a South African politician, who has served as the Chairperson of South Africa's National Council of Provinces since 23 May 2019. He was the mayor of the city of Johannesburg, South Afr ...

(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 Cathlene Labuschagne is a South African politician serving as a permanent delegate to the National Council of the Provinces from the Western Cape since 2014. Labuschagne is a party member of the Democratic Alliance. Life and career Labuschagne ...

(DA) * Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces: Seiso Mohai (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)

Monthly events

January and February

* 7 January –

COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa The COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa is part of the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On 5 March 2020, Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize had conf ...

: Health Minister

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 ...

announces that South Africa will receive one million doses of Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine in January and 500,000 in February. 1.25 million health workers will be prioritized. SA has confirmed 1.1 million infections and 31,368 deaths. * 25 January – A five-year-old boy in

dies and thousands are homeless as

Cyclone Eloise Tropical Cyclone Eloise was the strongest tropical cyclone to impact the country of Mozambique since Cyclone Kenneth in 2019 and the second of three consecutive tropical cyclones to impact Mozambique in the 2020–21 South-West Indian Ocean cy ...

causes extensive flooding in southern Africa.

is particularly hard hit. * 1 February ** Environment Minister

Barbara Creecy Barbara Dallas Creecy (born 17 June 1958) is a South African politician and previous anti-apartheid activist. A member of the African National Congress, she is currently serving as Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, and as a Member ...

reports that rhinoceros poaching in South Africa is down for the sixth year in a row, to 394 animals killed in 2020 for their horns. She attributed the decline to both the COVID-19 pandemic and to work by rangers and security personnel and noted that it is still a major problem. ** 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 ...

defies the Constitutional Court and refuses to testify to the

Zondo Commission The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State, better known as the Zondo Commission or State Capture Commission, is a public inquiry established in Janu ...

. * 23 February –

Port Elizabeth Gqeberha (), formerly Port Elizabeth and colloquially often referred to as P.E., is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, Sou ...

is officially renamed

Gqeberha Gqeberha (), formerly Port Elizabeth and colloquially often referred to as P.E., is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, So ...

. Other major name changes include

Kariega Uitenhage ( ; ), officially renamed Kariega, is a South African town in the Eastern Cape Province. It is well known for the Volkswagen factory located there, which is the biggest car factory on the African continent. Along with the city of Port El ...

(formerly

Uitenhage Uitenhage ( ; ), officially renamed Kariega, is a South African town in the Eastern Cape Province. It is well known for the Volkswagen factory located there, which is the biggest car factory on the African continent. Along with the city of Port El ...

) and

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport is an airport serving Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), a city in the Eastern Cape province in South Africa. It was formerly known as H. F. Verwoerd Airport and Port Elizabeth International Airport. The air ...

(formerly Port Elizabeth Airport).

March and April

* 1 March – The government announces plans to establish a special Land Court. * 8 March – Immigrant street vendors from Senegal and Burkina Faso are hospitalised after

xenophobic Xenophobia () is the fear or dislike of anything which is perceived as being foreign or strange. It is an expression of perceived conflict between an in-group and out-group and may manifest in suspicion by the one of the other's activities, a ...

attacks in

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 ...

. * 10 March – A middle-aged man is killed after police shoot him in the head with a

rubber bullet Rubber bullets (also called rubber baton rounds) are a type of baton round. Despite the name, rubber bullets typically have either a metal core with a rubber coating, or are a homogeneous admixture with rubber being a minority component. Altho ...

during a demonstration against the high cost of the

University of the Witwatersrand The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (), is a multi-campus South African Public university, public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University or Wits ( o ...

. * 24 March – The South African Human Rights Commission investigates a case of discrimination involving a

Ndebele Ndebele may refer to: *Southern Ndebele people, located in South Africa *Northern Ndebele people, located in Zimbabwe and Botswana Languages *Southern Ndebele language, the language of the South Ndebele *Northern Ndebele language, the language o ...

activist's Thando Mahlangu, 35, use of traditional clothing in a Clicks pharmacy in suburban

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 ...

. * 24 March – Queen

Mantfombi Dlamini Mantfombi Shiyiwe Dlamini Zulu (15 February 1953 – 29 April 2021) was the queen consort of the Zulu nation from 1977 to 2021 as the Great Wife to King Goodwill Zwelithini. She served as the queen regent from March 2021 to April 2021. Early ...

Zulu is named regent following the death of King Goodwill Zwelithini. * 25 March – Ethiopians demonstrate in

Pretoria Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...

to bring attention to human rights violations in the

Tigray Region The Tigray Region, officially the Tigray National Regional State, is the northernmost regional state in Ethiopia. The Tigray Region is the homeland of the Tigrayan, Irob, and Kunama people. Its capital and largest city is Mekelle. Tigray is ...

of Ethiopia. * 29 March – President Ramaphosa calls upon members of the

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

(ANC) who have been charged with corruption or other serious crimes

to step aside ''Bilingual'' is the sixth studio album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released in the United Kingdom on 2 September 1996 by Parlophone and in the United States on 10 September 1996 by Atlantic Records. The album reached number four o ...

within 30 days or face suspension. * 18 April -

2021 Table Mountain fire The 2021 Table Mountain fire (also known as the Rhodes Memorial fire or Cape Town fire) is a major fire that started on 18 April 2021 in and around Table Mountain National Park and the neighbourhoods of Newlands, Rosebank, Mowbray and Rondeb ...

May and June

* May – The trial of former president

on corruption charges is set to begin. It was postponed. * 9 June – Gosiame Thamara Sithole reportedly gives birth to ten babies—five boys and five girls—in a possible world record. On 15 June 2021 the supposed father of the 10 children admitted via a family statement that the story is false and that Gosiame Thamara Sithole never gave birth to decuplets. * 29 June – The Constitutional Court of South Africa (ConCourt) issued a statement on former president

that he would be imprisoned for a 15-month period following his guilt plead of being in contempt of court.

July and August

* 1 July - Violence starts to rapidly increase in the 2021 Cape Town taxi conflict over the B97 taxi route between Bellville and Paarl. * 2 July – President

appoints Minister of Basic Education

Angie Motshekga Matsie Angelina "Angie" Motshekga (born 19 June 1955) is a South African politician and educator, serving as the Minister of Basic Education since May 2009. She was also appointed as an acting president of the Republic of South Africa on 2 Jul ...

as the country's acting president for the day upon his leave to attend the State Funeral of the late Zambian President

Kenneth Kaunda Kenneth David Kaunda (28 April 1924 – 17 June 2021), also known as KK, was a Zambian politician who served as the first President of Zambia from 1964 to 1991. He was at the forefront of the struggle for independence from British rule. Dissat ...

, while Deputy President

is on sick leave. * 9 July -

2021 South African unrest The 2021 South African unrest, also known as the Zuma unrest or Zuma riots, was a wave of civil unrest occurred in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces from 9 to 18 July 2021, sparked by the imprisonment of former President Jacob ...

begins.

Scheduled events

Elections

* 1 November -

2021 South African municipal elections The 2021 South African municipal elections were held on 1 November 2021, to elect councils for all district, metropolitan and local municipalities in each of the country's nine provinces. It is the sixth municipal election held in South Afric ...

Holidays

South Africa has 12 public holidays; if a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is celebrated the following Monday. * 22 March – Human Rights Day * 27 April – Freedom Day ( National day) * 16 June – Youth Day * 9 August – National Women's Day * 24 September – Heritage Day

Sports

* 25 February –

Caster Semenya Mokgadi Caster Semenya OIB (born 7 January 1991) is a South African middle-distance runner and winner of two Olympic gold medals and three World Championships in the women's 800 metres. She first won gold at the World Championships in 2009 ...

, 30, announces she will appeal to the

European Court of Human Rights The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR or ECtHR), also known as the Strasbourg Court, is an international court of the Council of Europe which interprets the European Convention on Human Rights. The court hears applications alleging that a ...

(ECHR) so that she can compete as a female in track meets. Her birth certificate identifies her as female and she has always identified as female, but she has high levels of

testosterone Testosterone is the primary sex hormone and anabolic steroid in males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of Male reproductive system, male reproductive tissues such as testes and prostate, as well as promoting secondar ...

that keep her out of international competition. * 15 to 18 April – 2021 Men's Indoor African Cup * 19 to 25 April 2021 –

2021 IIHF World Championship Division III The 2021 IIHF World Championship Division III was scheduled to be an international ice hockey tournament run by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The Group A tournament would have been held in Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg from 18 to 24 April ...

* 24 August to 5 September – South Africa at the 2020 Summer Paralympics

Deaths

January

* 3 January – Dorah Sitole, 65, food writer (''40 Years of Iconic Food''); COVID-19. * 5 January –

Mluleki George Mluleki Editor George (2 February 1948 – 5 January 2021) was a South African activist, politician and sports administrator. He served as a Deputy Minister of Defence from 2004 to 2008. Political career George joined the banned African Natio ...

, 72, politician, founder of the

United Congress The United Congress is a long-standing artist collective active in Calgary, Alberta from the late 1980s to the present day. The group combines conceptual art, silkscreen, music, constructed language, abstraction, and anti-art in its activities. A ...

;

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 ...

. * 6 January – King Victor Thulare III, 40, royal, king of the

Pedi people The Pedi or (also known as the Northern Sotho or and the Marota or ) – are a Southern Africa, southern African ethnic group that speak Pedi or ''Sepedi'', a dialect belonging to the Sotho-Tswana peoples, Sotho-Tswana Ethnolinguistic gro ...

(since 2020); COVID-19. * 9 January –

Johnson Mlambo Johnson Phillip Mlambo (22 February 1940 – 9 January 2021) was a South African politician from Johannesburg. Activism and political career He joined the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) at its foundation in 1959, becoming branch leader in Dave ...

, 80, political activist; complications from COVID-19. * 11 January ** Mmule Maluleka, politician. ** Lindiwe Ndlovu, 44, actress (''

Winnie Mandela Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (born Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela; 26 September 1936 – 2 April 2018), also known as Winnie Mandela, was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician, and the second wife of Nelson Mandela. She serv ...

'', '' Little One''). * 13 January – Hannes Viljoen, 77, rugby union player (

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 ...

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 ...

). * 14 January – Mzwandile Nzimande, 44; COVID-19. * 15 January – Dr. Welcome Bhodloza Nzimande, 73, radio broadcaster (1978-1997); COVID-19. * 16 January **

Bheki Ntuli Muntukayise Bhekuyise Ntuli (24 December 1957 – 16 January 2021) was a South African politician. A member of the African National Congress, he served as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa from 1999 to 2003, when he resigned amid ...

, 63, politician, member of the

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 ...

(1999–2003); COVID-19. **

Sam Phillips Samuel Cornelius Phillips (January 5, 1923 – July 30, 2003) was an American record producer. He was the founder of Sun Records and Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, where he produced recordings by Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, ...

, 72, actor ('' Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls'', '' Red Dust'', ''

The Forgotten Kingdom ''The Forgotten Kingdom'' is a 2013 American-South African-Lesotho drama film written and directed by Andrew Mudge and featuring Jerry Mofokeng. It received nine nominations, and won three awards at the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards. Cast * Z ...

''). * 17 January –

Abel Gabuza Abel Gabuza (23 March 1955 – 17 January 2021) was a South African prelate of the Catholic Church who was Archbishop Coadjutor of the Archdiocese of Durban from 9 December 2018 and until his death in 2021. He was Bishop of Kimberley from 2010 to ...

, 65, Roman Catholic prelate, Archbishop Coadjutor of

(since 2018) and Bishop of

Kimberley Kimberly or Kimberley may refer to: Places and historical events Australia * Kimberley (Western Australia) ** Roman Catholic Diocese of Kimberley * Kimberley Warm Springs, Tasmania * Kimberley, Tasmania a small town * County of Kimberley, a ...

(2010–2018); COVID-19. * 18 January – Nombulelo Hermans, politician, member of the

(since 2019); COVID-19. * 21 January –

Jackson Mthembu Jackson Mphikwa Mthembu (5 June 1958 – 21 January 2021) was a South African politician who served as Minister in the Presidency of South Africa's government, and as a parliamentarian for the African National Congress (ANC). Previously, he ser ...

, 62, politician (

Minister in the Presidency The Minister in the Presidency is a Minister in the Cabinet of South Africa and is chosen by the President of South Africa. The minister is responsible for all portfolios within the Office of the President of South Africa. After Minister Jac ...

); COVID-19. * 22 January – Marius van Heerden, 46, Olympic middle-distance runner (

1996 File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A Centennial Olympic Park bombing, bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical Anti-abortion violence, anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 8 ...

); COVID-19. * 23 January – Jonas Mosa Gwangwa, 83, jazz musician. * 24 January – Joseph Sonnabend, 88, physician and HIV/AIDS researcher (''

How to Have Sex in an Epidemic ''How to Have Sex in an Epidemic: One Approach'' is a 1983 manual by Richard Berkowitz and Michael Callen, under the direction of Joseph Sonnabend, to advise men who have sex with men (MSM) about how to avoid contracting the infecting agent whi ...

''); complications from a heart attack. * 28 January **

Sibongile Khumalo Sibongile Khumalo (24 September 1957 – 28 January 2021) was a South African singer and song writer. She sang classical, jazz, opera and traditional South African music. She was noted for singing at the inauguration of Nelson Mandela in 199 ...

, 63, singer. **

Lewis Wolpert Lewis Wolpert (19 October 1929 – 28 January 2021) was a South African-born British developmental biologist, author, and broadcaster. Wolpert was best known for his French flag model of embryonic development, where he used the French flag a ...

, 91, South African-born British

developmental biologist Developmental biology is the study of the process by which animals and plants grow and develop. Developmental biology also encompasses the biology of regeneration, asexual reproduction, metamorphosis, and the growth and differentiation of stem ce ...

, COVID-19.

February

* 22 February – Seif Bamporiki, Rwandan opposition politician (

Rwanda National Congress The Rwanda National Congress (RNC) is Rwandan opposition group in exile, established in the United States on 12 December 2010. Prominent founders included Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa, Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa, Gerald Gahima, and Patrick Karegeya. Karege ...

, RNC) exiled in

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

; shot

March

* 4 March –

Karima Brown Karima Brown (1967 – 4 March 2021) was a South African journalist. She worked in a variety of positions, being the political editor for national daily magazine ''Business Day'' and launching Forbes Women Africa. She was also known for a court ...

, 54, journalist; COVID-19 * 9 March –

Cliff Simon Cliff Simon (7 September 1962 – 9 March 2021) was a South African athlete and actor, best known for his portrayal of Ba'al in ''Stargate SG-1''. Early life Simon was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, the fourth child of Emmanuelle and Phylis ...

, 58, South African-born American actor (''

Stargate SG-1 ''Stargate SG-1'' (often stylized in all caps, or abbreviated ''SG-1'') is a military science fiction Adventure fiction, adventure television series within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate, ''Stargate'' franchise. The show, created by Brad Wrigh ...

''); kiteboarding accident. * 12 March –

Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu (27 July 1948 – 12 March 2021) was the reigning King of the Zulu nation from 1968 to his death in 2021. He became King on the death on of his father, King Cyprian Bhekuzulu, in 1968 aged 20 years. Pr ...

, 72,

Zulu king This article lists the Zulu monarchs, including chieftains and kings of the Zulu royal family from their earliest known history up to the present time. Pre-Zulu The Zulu King lineage stretches to as far as Luzumana, who is believed to have li ...

; problems related to diabetes * 13 March –

Menzi Ngubane Menzi Ngubane (28 August 1964 – 13 March 2021) was a South African actor, best known for playing the role of Sibusiso Dlomo in the soap opera '' Generations'' from 2003 to 2014. Ngubane played numerous roles on other South African TV shows, i ...

, 56, actor; stroke * ? March – Noxolo Maqashalala, 44, actress; COVID-19 * 26 March – Elizabeth Thabethe, 61, politician, MP (since 1994); complications from a traffic collision. * 28 March –

Christof Heyns Christoffel Hendrik Heyns (10 January 1959 – 28 March 2021) was a Professor of Human Rights Law, Director of the Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa at the University of Pretoria and a member of the United Nations Human ...

, 62, human rights lawyer. * 29 March – Adrian Nel, 40, commercial diver and construction worker; murdered (death reported on this date) * 30 March – Patrick O. O'Meara, 83, South African-born American educator and author.

April

* 4 April –

Frank Mdlalose Frank Themba Mdlalose (29 November 1931 – 4 April 2021) was the first Premier of the newly renamed KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa, after the African National Congress (ANC) won the country's first all-inclusive general election on 2 ...

, 89, South African political activist, 1st former

Premier of KwaZulu-Natal The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal is the head of government of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The current Premier of KwaZulu-Natal i''s'' Nomusa Dube-Ncube, a member of the African National Congress. She is the first elected woman to assu ...

; COVID-19. * 10 April –

Sindisiwe van Zyl Sindisiwe van Zyl (3 April 1976 – 10 April 2021), was a Zimbabwean-born South African physician, radio DJ, columnist, health activist and researcher known for using social and mainstream media to share HIV-related, mental health, reproduc ...

, 45, physician and HIV activist; complications from COVID-19. * 29 April – Mantfombi Shiyiwe Dlamini Zulu, 68, Queen regent of the Zulus.

May

* 23 May – Emmanuel Mjokes Matsane, South African musician, 54; car accident. * 31 May – MacDonald Ndodana Mathunjwa, South African actor, 72; COVID-19.

June

* 7 June –

Shaleen Surtie-Richards Shaleen Surtie-Richards (7 May 1955 – 7 June 2021) was a South African television, stage, and film actress, perhaps best known for her starring roles in the 1988 film '' Fiela se Kind'' and the long-running series '' Egoli: Place of Gold.'' Sh ...

, 66, actress (Fiela se kind, Egoli: Place of Gold, Supersterre) * 13 June – Khaya Xaba, South African politician, illness. * 17 June – Jabu Mabuza, 63, South African businessman, COVID-19 related illness. * 22 June – Luzuko Nteleko, 36, South African actor.

July

* 1 July – **

Steve Kekana Tebogo Steve Kekana (4 August 1958 – 1 July 2021) was a South African singer and songwriter. He began his musical career in the 1980s. He attended and completed his studies at University of South Africa, UNISA. Life and career Kekana was b ...

, 62, South African singer. ** Mutodi Neshehe, 46, South African actor (b. 1975). * 9 July - ** Mayor

Geoff Makhubo Moloantoa Geoffrey Makhubo (8 February 1968 – 9 July 2021) was a South African politician who served as the Mayor of Johannesburg from December 2019 until his death from COVID-19 in July 2021. He was a member of the African National Congress an ...

, Former Mayor of the city of Johannesburg,

. * 12 July – ** Dr.

Ben Ngubane Baldwin Sipho "Ben" Ngubane (22 October 1941 – 12 July 2021) was a politician from South Africa. He held multiple positions in the post-apartheid government of the country. In particular, he was Premier of KwaZulu-Natal from 1997 to 1999 and ...

, former Premier of KwaZulu-Natal,

. ** Nokuzola Mlengana, 59, South African actress. * 15 July – **

Ebrahim Desai Ebrahim Desai (16 January 1963 – 15 July 2021) was a South African Muslim scholar and jurist who established the Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah, the Askimam fatawa portal and served as the senior professor of hadith at Madrasah In'aamiyyah. He was a ...

, 58, South African Mufti. * 27 July – Sindi Buthelezi, South African actress, 32. * 30 July –

Shona Ferguson Aaron Arthur Ferguson (30 April 197430 July 2021), professionally known as Shona Ferguson, was a Motswana actor based in South Africa, executive producer and co-founder of Ferguson Films, alongside his wife, Connie Ferguson. Early career Ferg ...

, 47, South African actor & film-maker,

August

* 3 August – Allan Stephenson, 71, British-born South African composer, cellist, and conductor. * 9 August –

Killer Kau Sakhile Hlatshwayo (5 July 1998 – 7 August 2021), known professionally as Killer Kau, he was a South African singer , dancer and record producer best known for his hit songs "Tholukuthi Hey" and "Amaneighbour" Early life and career Killer K ...

, 23, South African musician, car accident. * 9 August –

Mpura Mongezi Thomas Stuurman (22 September 1995 – 9 August 2021), known professionally as Mpura, was a South African rapper, fashion designer and record producer best known for his hit song "Umsebenzi Wethu". Early life and education Mpura was bor ...

, 26, South African musician, car accident * 31 August –

Kebby Maphatsoe Emmanuel Kebby Maphatsoe (31 December 1962 – 31 August 2021) was a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa from 2019 until his death in 2021. He had previously served from May 2009 to May 2019, when he lost his seat, however he returne ...

, 58, South African politician

September

* 6 September – Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, 59, South African politician, COVID-19. * 16 September –

Hlengiwe Mkhize Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize (6 September 1952 – 16 September 2021) was a South African politician, who served as Minister of Higher Education and Training under President Jacob Zuma. Early life and education Mkhize was born on 6 September 1952. ...

, 59, South African politician * 18 September –

Jolidee Matongo Jolidee Matongo (1974 – 18 September 2021) was a South African politician who served as the mayor of Johannesburg from 10 August 2021 until his death on 18 September 2021. Prior to his election as mayor, he served as the member of the mayoral c ...

, 45–46, South African politician, car accident.

November

* 11 November –

Frederik Willem de Klerk Frederik Willem de Klerk (, , 18 March 1936 – 11 November 2021) was a South African politician who served as state president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and as deputy president from 1994 to 1996 in the democratic government. As South ...

, 85, former

State President of South Africa The State President of the Republic of South Africa ( af, Staatspresident) was the head of state of South Africa from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic on 31 May 1961, albeit, outside the Commonweal ...

(lung cancer). * 17 November –

Theuns Jordaan Theuns Jordaan (10 January 1971 – 17 November 2021) was a South African singer-songwriter. Biography Jordaan was born on 10 January 1971 on a Karoo farm near Venterstad in the Eastern Cape. While studying industrial psychology at the Universi ...

, 50, South African singer-songwriter (

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ' ...

December

* 2 December – Sir

Antony Sher Sir Antony Sher (14 June 1949 – 2 December 2021) was a British actor, writer and theatre director of South African origin. A two-time Laurence Olivier Award winner and a four-time nominee, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1982 and ...

, 72, South African-born British actor (''

The History Man Bradbury's best known novel, ''The History Man'', a campus novel published in 1975, is a satire of academic life in the "glass and steel" universities, the ones established in the 1960s which followed the "redbricks". In 1981 the book was made ...

'', '' Murphy's Law''), cancer. * 6 December **

Lindiwe Mabuza Lindiwe Mabuza (13 August 1938 – 6 December 2021) was a South African politician, diplomat, poet, academic, journalist, and cultural activist. She was an anti-apartheid activist who went on to serve her country as a member of the first democr ...

, 83, South African politician, diplomat, poet, academic, journalist, and cultural activist **

Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim (1 July 19376 December 2021) was a South African anti-apartheid activist of Indian origin who was a member of the African National Congress's armed wing uMkhonto we Sizwe''.'' He was tried in the Pietermaritzburg sabotag ...

, 84, South African anti-apartheid activist * 8 December – Naledi Welliers, Former House wife of Johannesburg * 22 December –

Thandatha Jongilizwe Mabandla Chief Justice Thandathu Jongilizwe Mabandla known as Chief Justice Mabandla (16 August 1926 – 22 December 2021) was a Xhosa chief from Alice in Eastern Cape. Education In 1931, he started primary school at Mdlankomo before attending Grantvil ...

, 95, 1st Chief Minister of Ciskei in 1972–1973 * 23 December –

Lilian Diedericks Lilian Diedericks (17 December 1925 in Port Elizabeth, Red Location – 21 December 2021 in Port Elizabeth) was a South African activist known as a founding member of the Federation of South African Women. She was an active shop steward and co-f ...

, 93, South African anti-apartheid activist * 26 December -

Desmond Tutu Desmond Mpilo Tutu (7 October 193126 December 2021) was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop ...

, 90, South African

Anglican Bishop The Anglican ministry is both the leadership and agency of Christian service in the Anglican Communion. "Ministry" commonly refers to the office of ordained clergy: the ''threefold order'' of bishops, priests and deacons. More accurately, Anglica ...

, anti-apartheid activist

References

External links

{{Africa topic, 2021 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

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March and April

May and June

July and August

Scheduled events

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January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

November

December

See also

Country overviews

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References

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