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The following lists events that happened during 1986 in South Africa.


Incumbents

* State President: P.W. Botha.Archontology.org: A Guide for Study of Historical Offices: South Africa: Heads of State: 1961-1994
(Accessed on 14 April 2017)
* Chief Justice:
Pieter Jacobus Rabie Pieter Jacobus "Pierre" Rabie (1917–1997) was a senior South African judge during the apartheid era, and its Chief Justice from 1982 to 1989. Early life and education Born in the Free State in 1917, Rabie matriculated at Koffiefontein in 193 ...
.


Events

;January * 4 – Two people are killed and two others injured when their vehicle detonates an anti-
tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engin ...
land mine A land mine is an explosive device concealed under or on the ground and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets, ranging from combatants to vehicles and tanks, as they pass over or near it. Such a device is typically detonated automati ...
at Stockpoort in the
Ellisras Lephalale (formerly Ellisras) is a coal mining town in the Limpopo province of South Africa immediately east of the Waterberg Coalfield. The town was established as Ellisras in 1960 and named after Patrick Ellis and Piet Erasmus who settled on a ...
area, not far from the
Botswana Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...
border. * 5 – A policeman and an insurgent are killed at a police
roadblock A roadblock is a temporary installation set up to control or block traffic along a road. The reasons for one could be: *Roadworks *Temporary road closure during special events * Police chase *Robbery *Sobriety checkpoint In peaceful circumstances ...
on the
East London East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the f ...
-
King William's Town Qonce, formerly known as King William's Town, is a city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa along the banks of the Buffalo River. The city is about northwest of the Indian Ocean port of East London. Qonce, with a population of around ...
road. * 7 – A grenade is thrown at a Railways policeman in Soweto. * 8 – A
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 ...
sub-station is damaged by an explosion. * 9 – A
limpet mine A limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets. It is so named because of its superficial similarity to the shape of the limpet, a type of sea snail that clings tightly to rocks or other hard surfaces. A swimmer or diver m ...
explodes at 21h15 and damages a substation in Jacobs,
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 ...
. Later a second limpet explodes, killing a policeman and injuring other policemen and two electrical workers who arrive at the scene. * 18 – Two limpet mines damage a sub-station in Westville, Durban. * 20 – A coup d'état, led by Major General
Justin Lekhanya General Justin Metsing Lekhanya (7 April 1938 – 20 January 2021) was the Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Military Council of Lesotho from 24 January 1986 to 2 May 1991. Background Born in Thaba-Tseka in 1938, Lekhanya completed his pri ...
, deposes
Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...
's prime minister
Leabua Jonathan Joseph Leabua Jonathan (30 October 1914 – 5 April 1987) was the second prime minister of Lesotho. He succeeded Chief Sekhonyana Nehemia Maseribane following a by-election and held that post from 1965 to 1986. Early life and career Born in Le ...
and re-instates King Moshoeshoe II in power. * 20 –
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 ...
members based in Lesotho are deported to
Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most cent ...
. * 20 – Four limpet mines damage an electrical pylon near Durban at 20h45. A fifth mine, probably aimed at the police and repair crew, explodes later with no injuries. * 24 – Police Sergeant Makhulu is killed in a grenade attack on his home in
Mamelodi Mamelodi, part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, is a township set up by the then apartheid government northeast of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Etymology "Mamelodi" is the name derived from the Sepedi word with the prefix bei ...
. * 31 – During the opening of Parliament State President P.W. Botha outlines government policy on the restoration of South African citizenship to Blacks. * A
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 ...
man throws a
grenade A grenade is an explosive weapon typically thrown by hand (also called hand grenade), but can also refer to a shell (explosive projectile) shot from the muzzle of a rifle (as a rifle grenade) or a grenade launcher. A modern hand grenade genera ...
at three policemen and is killed when the policemen retaliate. ;February * 2 – A soldier and a cadre are killed near Alldays. * 4 – Four
South African Army The South African Army is the principal land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Service. ...
soldiers are injured when a cadre throws a grenade into their military vehicle at
Gugulethu Gugulethu is a township in the Western Cape, South Africa and is 15 km from Cape Town. Its name is a contraction of ''igugu lethu'', which is Xhosa for ''our pride''. The township was established along with Nyanga in the 1960s. History The ...
. * 9 – A limpet mine destroys two police vehicles at
Umlazi Umlazi is a township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, located south-west of Durban. Organisationally and administratively it forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and its South Municipal Planning Region. It is the fourth largest ...
police station near Durban when parked after returning from riot patrol. * 10 – A large bomb is defused by police in
Amanzimtoti Amanzimtoti is a coastal town just south of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The town is well known for its warm climate and numerous beaches, and is a popular tourist destination, particularly with surfers. The annual sardine run attracts m ...
, 200 m from where the December
1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a ...
blast took place for which Andrew Zondo was hanged. * 12 – A pick-up detonates an anti-
tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engin ...
mine Mine, mines, miners or mining may refer to: Extraction or digging * Miner, a person engaged in mining or digging *Mining, extraction of mineral resources from the ground through a mine Grammar *Mine, a first-person English possessive pronoun ...
near
Messina Messina (, also , ) is a harbour city and the capital of the Italian Metropolitan City of Messina. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy, with a population of more than 219,000 inhabitants in ...
, with no injuries. * 16 – A police
Casspir The Casspir is a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle that has been in use in South Africa since the 1980s. It is a four-wheeled, four-wheel drive vehicle, used for transport of troops. It can hold a crew of two, plus 12 additional soldiers an ...
detonates an anti-tank land mine in
Mamelodi Mamelodi, part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, is a township set up by the then apartheid government northeast of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Etymology "Mamelodi" is the name derived from the Sepedi word with the prefix bei ...
. * 17 – Two policemen and two cadres are killed while one is arrested in Zwide. * 19 – An explosion in a toilet block near the radio control room at the Cambridge East police station causes no injuries. * An explosion occurs at a
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 ...
sub-station. * At De Deur a
limpet mine A limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets. It is so named because of its superficial similarity to the shape of the limpet, a type of sea snail that clings tightly to rocks or other hard surfaces. A swimmer or diver m ...
causes structural damage to a sub-station. * A hand grenade explodes in a
Transkei Transkei (, meaning ''the area beyond he riverKei''), officially the Republic of Transkei ( xh, iRiphabliki yeTranskei), was an unrecognised state in the southeastern region of South Africa from 1976 to 1994. It was, along with Ciskei, a Ban ...
minister's official car. ;March * 3 – Seven black men, the Gugulethu Seven, are killed in a confrontation with police in
Gugulethu Gugulethu is a township in the Western Cape, South Africa and is 15 km from Cape Town. Its name is a contraction of ''igugu lethu'', which is Xhosa for ''our pride''. The township was established along with Nyanga in the 1960s. History The ...
. * 4 – An explosion on the 3rd floor of John Vorster Square injures two policemen and two civilians. * 7 – A
limpet mine A limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets. It is so named because of its superficial similarity to the shape of the limpet, a type of sea snail that clings tightly to rocks or other hard surfaces. A swimmer or diver m ...
is found at the
Hillbrow Hillbrow () is an inner city residential neighbourhood of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is known for its high levels of population density, unemployment, poverty, prostitution and crime. In the 1970s it was an Apartheid-design ...
Police Station and is safely detonated by police. * 7 – A State of Emergency that lasted eight months is lifted by the government. * 11 – Lowveld massacre: South African apartheid army and police forces opened fire on students attending a trial in the Kabokweni magistrate court, with fatalities among the casualties. * 12 – Esther Masuku, mother of youth activist and SACC member Oupa Masuku, is killed in a hand grenade attack on their house in
Atteridgeville Atteridgeville is a township located to the west of Pretoria, South Africa. It is located to the east of Saulsville, to the west of West Park; to the north of Laudium and to the south of Lotus Gardens. The settlement was established in 1939, and ...
,
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 ...
. * 12 – The Eminent Persons Group meets imprisoned
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 ...
leader
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 ...
. * 15 – A limpet mine explodes in front of the Springs railway station, seriously injuring one person. * 17 – A mini-limpet is discovered at the Afrikaans high school at Elsburg,
Germiston Germiston, also known as kwaDukathole, is a small city in the East Rand region of Gauteng, South Africa, administratively forming part of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality since the latter's establishment in 2000. It functions as ...
and is safely detonated. * 18 – Police Constable Sinki Vuma is shot dead at his home in Mamelodi. * 19 – A car belonging to a special branch policeman is destroyed by a limpet mine. * 19 – A bomb blast occurs inside the property of the Springs
New Apostolic Church The New Apostolic Church (NAC) is a Christian denomination, Christian church that split from the Catholic Apostolic Church during an 1863 schism in Hamburg, Germany. The church has existed since 1863 in Germany and since 1897 in the Ne ...
. * 21 – Four mines explode at an Escom sub-station in Durban. * 25 –
Trevor Manuel Trevor Andrew Manuel (born 31 January 1956) is a South African politician who served in the government of South Africa as Minister of Finance from 1996 to 2009, during the presidencies of Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe, an ...
's ban is lifted. * 26 – A
Vosloorus Vosloorus is a large township situated south of Boksburg and just east of Katlehong in Ekurhuleni, just 30 kilometres south-east of Johannesburg, Gauteng Gauteng ( ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. The name in Sotho-Tswana la ...
man is killed by police when he throws a grenade at them. * Police come under fire at a funeral in Dobsonville. ;April * 8 – The home of the former Labour Party secretary in
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 ( ...
, Kevin Leaf, is attacked. * 10 – A person is killed and four injured when a
limpet mine A limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets. It is so named because of its superficial similarity to the shape of the limpet, a type of sea snail that clings tightly to rocks or other hard surfaces. A swimmer or diver m ...
explodes at Braamfontein station in
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 ...
. * 11 – Peter Nchabeleng, former president of the United Democratic Front, dies in police custody in Schoonoord,
Lebowa Lebowa was a bantustan ("homeland") located in the Transvaal in northeastern South Africa. Seshego initially acted as Lebowa's capital while the purpose-built Lebowakgomo was being constructed. Granted internal self-government on 2 October ...
. * 18 – Two people are killed and several others are injured when a bomb explodes at the Wild Coast Casino at Bizana in the
Eastern Cape Province 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 199 ...
. 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 ...
denies responsibility. Phumzile Mayaphi would be charged, found guilty of murder and sabotage and sentenced to death on 12 May 1989. * 21 – Two anti-tank landmines detonate in the
Breyten Breyten is a small farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It is situated at the foot of ''Klipstapel'', the highest point on the Drainage divide, watershed between the westward-flowing Vaal River system and the eastward-flowing Olifants/Letab ...
- Chrissiesmeer district, injuring two people in a taxi and one tractor driver. * 21 – A cadre is seriously injured when he and others attack the police in
Alexandra, Gauteng Alexandra, informally abbreviated to Alex, is a Township (South Africa), township in the Gauteng province of South Africa. It forms part of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and is located next to the wealthy suburb of Sandton. ...
. * 23 – An explosion occurs at the Cala post office. * 24 – An explosion occurs at the Meyerspark post office. * 27 – Gordon Webster, under arrest in Edendale hospital, is aided to escape by Robert McBride and other Umkhonto we Sizwe insurgents, who kill an innocent bystander and injure the two policemen who are guarding Webster. ;May * 1 – Two grenades are thrown at the home of Mr. Klein, principal of Wentworth Primary School. Klein and his wife are both injured. * 7 – A bomb explosion causes extensive damage to Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre,
Sandton Sandton is an upscale commercial and residential district north of the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. It forms part of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. The name of the city came from the combination of two of its suburbs, ...
. * 25 – A vehicle detonates an anti-tank mine on the farm of Colonel Koos Durr near Davel. Two civilians are killed and eight injured. * 26 – A tractor detonates a second anti-tank mine on the farm of Colonel Koos Durr, this time with no injuries. * Police finds a 15 kg bomb under a car in downtown Durban and defuses it. ;June * 5 –
Botswana Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...
, Mozambique, South Africa and
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
agree to the establishment of the Limpopo Basin Permanent Technical Committee. * 6 – Former minister of
KaNgwane KaNgwane () was a bantustan in South Africa, intended by the apartheid government to be a semi-independent homeland for the Swazi people. It was called the "Swazi Territorial Authority" from 1976 to 1977. In September 1977 it was renamed KaNgwan ...
David Lukhele and his sister-in-law are murdered by
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 ...
terrorists Neo Griffith Potsane, Jabu Obed Masina and Frans "Ting Ting" Masango. * 10 – A vehicle detonates an anti-tank mine on the farm Boshoek, 5 km from
Volksrust Volksrust is a town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa near the KwaZulu-Natal provincial border, some 240 km southeast of Johannesburg, 53 km north of Newcastle and 80 km southeast of Standerton. History The town was la ...
, and injures one person. * 10 – On another farm, Blomhof, also near Volksrust, an anti-tank mine injures two farm workers. * 12 – The Government declares a nationwide state of emergency. * 14 – A
car bomb A car bomb, bus bomb, lorry bomb, or truck bomb, also known as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), is an improvised explosive device designed to be detonated in an automobile or other vehicles. Car bombs can be roughly divided ...
explodes outside the "Magoo's" and "Why Not" bars on the Durban beach-front bombing beachfront, killing three and injuring 69 civilians. Robert McBride would later be sentenced to death for the bombing but would be granted amnesty by the ANC government and appointed in several successive senior government positions. * 16 – A probable anti-tank mine explosion kills three
Bophuthatswana Bophuthatswana (, meaning "gathering of the Tswana people"), officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana ( tn, Riphaboliki ya Bophuthatswana; af, Republiek van Bophuthatswana), was a Bantustan (also known as "Homeland"; an area set aside for mem ...
Defence Force troops in a troop carrier in the Winterveldt region. * 22 –
Limpet mine A limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets. It is so named because of its superficial similarity to the shape of the limpet, a type of sea snail that clings tightly to rocks or other hard surfaces. A swimmer or diver m ...
s damage fuel storage tanks and a liquid fuel pipeline at the
Mobil Mobil is a petroleum brand owned and operated by American oil and gas corporation ExxonMobil. The brand was formerly owned and operated by an oil and gas corporation of the same name, which itself merged with Exxon to form ExxonMobil in 1999. ...
Refinery near Durban. * 22 – A
limpet mine A limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets. It is so named because of its superficial similarity to the shape of the limpet, a type of sea snail that clings tightly to rocks or other hard surfaces. A swimmer or diver m ...
explodes at 01h45 outside a Copper Shop on West Street, Durban. * 24 – An explosion at 14h00 injures 16 civilians at a
Wimpy Bar Wimpy is a fast-food chain that was founded in the United States. It found its success internationally, mainly in the United Kingdom and South Africa. It has changed between being a table-service establishment and counter-service establishment ...
fast-food restaurant on Rissik Street,
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 ...
. * 27 – At a police roadblock near the Botswana border four cadres are killed and one policeman injured. * 28 – An explosion just before 12h00 injures two people in a Queenstown shopping centre. * 29 – An explosion occurs at the Alice post office. * 30 – A limpet mine explodes at 03h15 on a pedestrian bridge in Westville, Durban and a second limpet aimed at responding policemen explodes 15 minutes later. * A bomb explodes at Jabulani Amphitheatre 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 ...
, with no injuries. * Ten people are killed in an explosion in a minibus in
Bophuthatswana Bophuthatswana (, meaning "gathering of the Tswana people"), officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana ( tn, Riphaboliki ya Bophuthatswana; af, Republiek van Bophuthatswana), was a Bantustan (also known as "Homeland"; an area set aside for mem ...
. ;July * 1 – An explosion outside the Carlton Hotel in
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 ...
injures eight civilians. * 4 – A
limpet mine A limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets. It is so named because of its superficial similarity to the shape of the limpet, a type of sea snail that clings tightly to rocks or other hard surfaces. A swimmer or diver m ...
explodes outside Checkers supermarket in Silverton,
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 ...
and injures 20 civilians. * 5 – An explosion at the Mowbray police station 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 ...
slightly injures two policemen. * 5 – One civilian is injured when a vehicle detonates an anti-tank land mine near
Volksrust Volksrust is a town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa near the KwaZulu-Natal provincial border, some 240 km southeast of Johannesburg, 53 km north of Newcastle and 80 km southeast of Standerton. History The town was la ...
. * 5 – In
Vosloorus Vosloorus is a large township situated south of Boksburg and just east of Katlehong in Ekurhuleni, just 30 kilometres south-east of Johannesburg, Gauteng Gauteng ( ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. The name in Sotho-Tswana la ...
and
Katlehong Katlehong is a large township in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. It is 28 km south-east of Johannesburg and south of Germiston between two other townships of Thokoza and Vosloorus next to the N3 highway. It forms part of the City of E ...
, five Development Board officials are killed in two attacks on their vehicles and two insurgents are killed in the return fire. * 6 – Police kill three cadres and arrest one in
Empangeni Empangeni is a city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is approximately 157 kilometres north of Durban, in hilly countryside, overlooking a flat coastal plain and the major harbour town of Richards Bay 16 kilometres away. The N2 freeway runs east ...
. * 9 – Piet Ntuli, Minister of Home Affairs of
KwaNdebele KwaNdebele was a bantustan in South Africa, intended by the apartheid government as a semi-independent homeland for the Ndebele people. The homeland was created when the South African government purchased nineteen white-owned farms and install ...
, is killed by a
car bomb A car bomb, bus bomb, lorry bomb, or truck bomb, also known as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), is an improvised explosive device designed to be detonated in an automobile or other vehicles. Car bombs can be roughly divided ...
explosion in KwaNdebele. * 10 – An explosion injures seven civilians in Silverton. * 10 – Police and members of the
South African Defence Force The South African Defence Force (SADF) (Afrikaans: ''Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag'') comprised the armed forces of South Africa from 1957 until 1994. Shortly before the state reconstituted itself as a republic in 1961, the former Union Defence F ...
ambush and kills 6 cadres near Alldays. * 22 – A policeman is killed in
Katlehong Katlehong is a large township in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. It is 28 km south-east of Johannesburg and south of Germiston between two other townships of Thokoza and Vosloorus next to the N3 highway. It forms part of the City of E ...
. * 23 – Passbook laws are relaxed to counter the escalating international condemnation * 28 – Two cadres are killed near
Nelspruit Mbombela (also known as Nelspruit) is a city in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province. Located on the Crocodile River (Mpumalanga), Crocodile River, Mbombela lies about by road west of the Mozambique border, ea ...
. * 30 – The
Umtata Mthatha , formerly Umtata, is the main city of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa and the capital of OR Tambo District Municipality. The city has an airport, previously known as the K. D. Matan ...
Police station comes under attack and three policemen and four innocent bystanders are killed. * 30 – A vehicle detonates an anti-tank landmine near Nelspruit. * During a two-hour gun battle in
Mdantsane Mdantsane is a South African urban township situated 15 km away from East London, Eastern Cape, East London and 37 km away from King William's Town, Qonce in the Eastern Cape. It is the second largest township in the Eastern Cape after ...
police kill an insurgent. ;August * 3 – An explosion occurs at the Lakeside post office. * 15 –
Trevor Manuel Trevor Andrew Manuel (born 31 January 1956) is a South African politician who served in the government of South Africa as Minister of Finance from 1996 to 2009, during the presidencies of Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe, an ...
is detained for the second time, this time only to be released in
1988 File:1988 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The oil platform Piper Alpha explodes and collapses in the North Sea, killing 165 workers; The USS Vincennes (CG-49) mistakenly shoots down Iran Air Flight 655; Australia celebrates its Australian ...
. * 16 – Four cadres are killed and one injured in the eastern
Transvaal Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name Transvaal. * South African Republic (1856–1902; af, ...
, near the
Swaziland Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...
border. * 17 – A vehicle detonates an anti-tank landmine on the farm Stellen Rust near
Nelspruit Mbombela (also known as Nelspruit) is a city in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province. Located on the Crocodile River (Mpumalanga), Crocodile River, Mbombela lies about by road west of the Mozambique border, ea ...
, killing five and injuring two civilians. * 22 –
Inkatha Freedom Party The Inkatha Freedom Party ( zu, IQembu leNkatha yeNkululeko, IFP) is a right-wing political party in South Africa. The party has been led by Velenkosini Hlabisa since the party's 2019 National General Conference. Mangosuthu Buthelezi founded t ...
member Winnington Sabelo comes under grenade attack and Umkhonto we Sizwe terrorists fire at the car of his wife as she enters the driveway, killing her and injuring three children. * 24 – In Imbali the home of town councilor Austin Kwejama comes under
grenade A grenade is an explosive weapon typically thrown by hand (also called hand grenade), but can also refer to a shell (explosive projectile) shot from the muzzle of a rifle (as a rifle grenade) or a grenade launcher. A modern hand grenade genera ...
attack and one child is killed and another injured. * 26 – In White City Soweto, between 20 and 25 residents were shot and killed by police, over 60 wounded and four police were wounded. The shootings occurred after officials tried to evict residents participating in a rent boycott. The following day, a Black Town Councilor was hacked to death in retaliation. ;September * 1 – A bomb explodes at the Pick and Pay supermarket in Montclair,
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 ...
and injures one civilian. * 4 – Police broke up multiple mass funeral services for the victims of the August 26 massacre with tear gas, armored vehicles, and helicopters. A woman was reported killed, and many injured. * 7 –
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 ...
becomes the first black
Anglican Church Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of the ...
bishop in South Africa. * 7 – A car bomb explodes not far from ''
The Star ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
s Seaside Home in Durban, a holiday home for underprivileged children. * 24 – The home of
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 ...
Housing Director, Del Kevin, is extensively damaged by a
limpet mine A limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets. It is so named because of its superficial similarity to the shape of the limpet, a type of sea snail that clings tightly to rocks or other hard surfaces. A swimmer or diver m ...
. * 30 – A Northern Natal policeman is injured in an attack. * A mini-limpet mine explodes in the bar of the Devonshire Hotel, a popular venue for Wits students, injuring three civilians. * A grenade is thrown into a crowded night club in Edenpark, Alberton. ;October * 1 – The South African Railways Police is dissolved and its assets, personnel, and functions are transferred to the
South African Police The South African Police (SAP) was the national police force and law enforcement agency in South Africa from 1913 to 1994; it was the ''de facto'' police force in the territory of South West Africa (Namibia) from 1939 to 1981. After South Afr ...
. * 6 – Six soldiers are injured when their military vehicle detonates an anti-tank mine at
Mbuzini Mbuzini is a village in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. Situated near the borders with Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a ...
near the
Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
border. * 9 – Police Lieutenant Victor Raju is killed in a grenade attack on his home 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 ...
. * 19 – President
Samora Machel Samora Moisés Machel (29 September 1933 – 19 October 1986) was a Mozambican military commander and political leader. A socialist in the tradition of Marxism–Leninism, he served as the first President of Mozambique from the country's ...
of
Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
dies when his
Tupolev Tu-134 The Tupolev Tu-134 (NATO reporting name: Crusty) is a twin-engined, narrow-body jet airliner built in the Soviet Union for short and medium-haul routes from 1966 to 1989. The original version featured a glazed-nose design and, like certain ot ...
aircraft flies into the ground near Mbuzini in South Africa. * 20 – A
limpet mine A limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets. It is so named because of its superficial similarity to the shape of the limpet, a type of sea snail that clings tightly to rocks or other hard surfaces. A swimmer or diver m ...
explodes outside the Lamontville Police station. * 22 – Two anti-tank landmine explosions occur. * 31 – Detective Warrant Officer Seleka is killed in a grenade attack on his home. * The police station in
Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...
is attacked. ;November * 2 or 4 – An anti-tank landmine explosion kills one woman and injures a child near
Nelspruit Mbombela (also known as Nelspruit) is a city in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province. Located on the Crocodile River (Mpumalanga), Crocodile River, Mbombela lies about by road west of the Mozambique border, ea ...
. * 4 – A landmine kills a soldier on horseback in the eastern
Transvaal Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name Transvaal. * South African Republic (1856–1902; af, ...
. * 10 – Two bombs explode at the
Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...
Magistrates Court, injuring 24 people including the Magistrate and Public Prosecutor. * 13 – The system of
Pass laws In South Africa, pass laws were a form of internal passport system designed to segregate the population, manage urbanization and allocate migrant labor. Also known as the natives' law, pass laws severely limited the movements of not only black ...
was formally repealed * 14 – A landmine injures a farmer and his son in the Alldays district. * 23 – A
limpet mine A limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets. It is so named because of its superficial similarity to the shape of the limpet, a type of sea snail that clings tightly to rocks or other hard surfaces. A swimmer or diver m ...
explodes at Fordsburg flats, new housing for Soweto
town council A town council, city council or municipal council is a form of local government for small municipalities. Usage of the term varies under different jurisdictions. Republic of Ireland Town Councils in the Republic of Ireland were the second ti ...
lors. * Two offices of
PUTCO The Public Utility Transport Corporation (PUTCO) is a provider of commuter bus services in the provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo, and the western parts of Mpumalanga in South Africa. PUTCO was established in 1945 after the bus strike of 1944. P ...
bus company are bombed 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 ...
after a fare increase of 17.5% is announced. ;December * 15 – A police vehicle detonates an anti-tank mine in the Barberton area, injuring the two occupants. * 19 – An anti-tank landmine injures defence force members in the
Komatipoort Komatipoort is a town situated at the confluence of the Crocodile and Komati Rivers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The town is 8 km from the Crocodile Bridge Gate into the Kruger Park, and just 5 km from the Mozambique border ...
area. * 19 – A grenade attack is executed on the home of a Soweto councillor and two policemen are injured. * 27 – Three cadres and two policemen are killed near
Messina Messina (, also , ) is a harbour city and the capital of the Italian Metropolitan City of Messina. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy, with a population of more than 219,000 inhabitants in ...
.


Births

* 2 January – Refilwe Modiselle, South Africa's first professional fashion model with
albinism Albinism is the congenital absence of melanin in an animal or plant resulting in white hair, feathers, scales and skin and pink or blue eyes. Individuals with the condition are referred to as albino. Varied use and interpretation of the term ...
* 7 February – Jenna Dreyer, diver * 10 February – Christine Kalmer, long-distance runner * 25 February –
Eric Macheru Eric Macheru (February 25, 1986), is a South African actor and former footballer prominently known for portraying Leeto Maputla on the soap opera, Skeem Saam on SABC1 SABC 1 is a South African public television network operated by the Sout ...
, actor * 16 March –
Bernard Parker Bernard Parker (born 16 March 1986) is a South African professional association footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for Premier Soccer League club  TS Galaxy. Between 2007 and 2015 he made 73 appearances for the  South Africa n ...
, football player * 21 March –
Kerry-Lee Harrington Kerry-Lee Harrington (born 21 March 1986) is a South African badminton player. She won a bronze medal, along with her partner Stacy Doubell, in the women's doubles at the 2007 All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria. Harrington represented South Af ...
, badminton player * 6 April – Bryce Moon, football player * 25 April – Waylon Murray, rugby player * 5 May –
Bokang Montjane Bokang Montjane (born 5 May 1986 in Transvaal) is a South African model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss South Africa 2010, becoming the official representative of her country to the Miss Universe 2011 and Miss World 2011 p ...
, Miss World Africa at
Miss World 2011 Miss World 2011, the 61st edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 6 November 2011 at the Earls Court Two in London, United Kingdom. As part of the events, the contestants also travelled to Edinburgh, Scotland between 23 and 27 Octobe ...
. * 20 May &ndash
Riaan Fitzgeald
Creative Designer * 23 May – Thanduyise Khuboni, football player * 27 May – Thuso Phala, football player * 3 June –
Lwazi Mvovo Lwazi Ncedo Mvovo is a South African professional rugby union player for the in Super Rugby and in the Currie Cup and the in the Rugby Challenge.Dann-Jacques Mouton Dann-Jaques Mouton is a South African film, television, and theatre actor. Early life Mouton was born in 1986 in Kraaifontein, Western Cape, South Africa. He matriculated at Eben Dönges High School. He obtained a Diploma in Theatre and Perfor ...
, actor * 19 June –
Lady Zamar Yamikani Janet Banda; known professionally as Lady Zamar, is a South African singer and songwriter. She was born on 19 June 1995 in Tembisa, South Africa and was raised in Thembisa. She mainly incorporates elements of house music in her songs and ...
, singer * 3 July – Duane Vermeulen, rugby player * 8 July – Zandre Labuschagne, artistic gymnast * 12 July –
JP Pietersen Jon-Paul Roger "JP" Pietersen (born 12 July 1986 in Stellenbosch, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for the in the Currie Cup. He generally plays fullback or wing but occasionally, he plays at outside centre. He played in 69 ...
, Springbok rugby player * 21 July – Heinrich Brüssow, rugby player * 19 August –
Lehlohonolo Majoro Lehlohonolo Majoro (born 19 August 1986 in Ladybrand) is a South African footballer who plays as a forward for Premier Soccer League side AmaZulu and the South African national team. Club career Kaizer Chiefs He made his unofficial debut in ...
, football player * 28 August –
Justin Pietersen Justin Pietersen (born 28 August 1986 in Cape Town, 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 stret ...
, figure skater * 11 September –
Chiliboy Ralepelle Mahlatse Chiliboy Ralepelle (born 11 September 1986 in Tzaneen, South Africa), is a former rugby union player for the in Super Rugby and in the Currie Cup. His usual position is at hooker. Career Youth rugby As a pupil at Pretoria Boys High ...
, rugby player * 18 November –
James Thompson (rower) James Thompson (born 18 November 1986) is a South African rower. He attended school at St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown. He joined the Tuks rowing club and received a Sport Sciences degree from the University of Pretoria. Thompson won a gold m ...
,
olympics The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...
gold medalist rower * 29 October –
Katlego Maboe Katlego Moswane Maboe (born 29 October 1986) is a South African TV presenter, singer-songwriter and accountant. He was consecutively awarded Best TV Presenter at the South African Film and Television Awards in 2015 and 2016. He is also known fo ...
, TV presenter, singer-songwriter * 22 November –
Oscar Pistorius Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius (; ; born 22 November 1986) is a South African convicted murderer and former professional sprinter. Both of his feet were amputated when he was 11 months old owing to a congenital defect; he was born missing the o ...
, Paralympic athlete


Deaths

* 8 March –
Moses Mabhida Moses Mncane Mbheki Mabhida (11 October 1923 – 8 March 1986) was a South African politician. Mabhida was leader of the South African Communist Party from 1978 until his death in 1986. Biography Mabhida was born in Thornville, Natal to a pe ...
, general secretary of the South African Communist Party. (b. 1923) * 24 December –
Richard van der Riet Woolley Sir Richard van der Riet Woolley Officer of the Order of the British Empire, OBE Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (24 April 1906 – 24 December 1986) was an English astronomer who became the eleventh Astronomer Royal. His mother's maiden n ...
, astronomer and director of
South African Astronomical Observatory South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is the national centre for optical and infrared astronomy in South Africa. It was established in 1972. The observatory is run by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. The facility's funct ...
. (b. 1906)


Sports


Athletics

* 3 May – Zithulele Sinqe wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:08:04 in
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 ...
.


References

{{Africa topic, 1986 in, state=collapsed
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 ...
Years in South Africa History of South Africa