The following lists events that happened during 1989 in South Africa.

Incumbents

State President The State President of the Republic of South Africa () 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, outside the Commonwealth of Nations, and Queen Eli ...

: ** P.W. Botha (until 15 August).Archontology.org: A Guide for Study of Historical Offices: South Africa: Heads of State: 1961-1994
(Accessed on 14 April 2017) ** F.W. de Klerk (acting from 15 August, incumbent from 20 September). * Chief Justice:

Pieter Jacobus Rabie Pieter Jacobus "Pierre" Rabie (1917–1997) was a senior South African judge during the apartheid era and served as Chief Justice from 1982 to 1989. Early life and education Born in the Free State in 1917, Rabie matriculated at Koffiefontei ...

Events

;January * 8 – The

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a political party in South Africa. It originated as a liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid and has governed the country since 1994, when the 1994 South African general election, fir ...

announces that it will start dismantling its

guerrilla Guerrilla warfare is a form of unconventional warfare in which small groups of irregular military, such as rebels, Partisan (military), partisans, paramilitary personnel or armed civilians, which may include Children in the military, recruite ...

camps in

Angola Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country on the west-Central Africa, central coast of Southern Africa. It is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking world, Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) country in both total area and List of c ...

in support of the peace process. * 18 – State President P.W. Botha has a mild stroke. * 19 – Chris Heunis, Minister of Constitutional Development and Planning, is appointed Acting State President. * An

Eskom Eskom Hld SOC Ltd or Eskom is a South African electricity public utility. Eskom was established in 1923 as the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM) (). Eskom represents South Africa in the Southern African Power Pool. The utility is the larg ...

sub-station in Glenwood,

Durban Durban ( ; , from meaning "bay, lagoon") is the third-most populous city in South Africa, after Johannesburg and Cape Town, and the largest city in the Provinces of South Africa, province of KwaZulu-Natal. Situated on the east coast of South ...

is damaged by an explosion and police later defuses a second bomb found nearby. * An explosion occurs at the home in

Benoni Benoni may refer to: Places * Benoni, Gauteng, a town in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, in the East Rand region of Gauteng province in South Africa * Benoni, a barangay in Mahinog, Camiguin, Philippines People * Benoni (given name), a ...

of the chair of the Ministers Council in the House of Delegates. * An explosion occurs at an aircraft factory in

Ciskei Ciskei ( , meaning ''on this side of Great Kei River,

he river The He River is a tributary of the Xi River in Guangxi and Guangdong provinces in China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it ...

Kei''), officially the Republic of Ciskei (), was a Bantustan for the Xhosa people, located in the southeast of South Africa. It covered an area of , almost entirely surrounded b ...

. * Two municipal police members are killed in a grenade attack on

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 ...

's Municipal Police Station. ;February * 2 – An ailing State President

Pieter Willem Botha Pieter Willem Botha, ( , ; 12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006) was a South African politician who served as the last Prime Minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and as the first executive State President of South Africa from 1984 until ...

steps down from the leadership of the National Party, but remains state president. *

Trevor Manuel Trevor Andrew Manuel (born 31 January 1956) is a retired South African politician and former anti-apartheid activist who served in the cabinet of South Africa between 1994 and 2014. He was the South African Department of Finance, Minister of ...

is released from detention under stringent restriction orders. * An explosion at a municipal police barracks in

Soweto Soweto () is a Township (South Africa), 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 T ...

injures four policemen. * An explosion next to a police parade in

kills a municipal constable and injures nine others. * A limpet mine explodes at the home of the commander of the Katlehong Police Station, Col. D. Dlamini. ;March * 15–21 – A conference of

chief representatives and regional treasurers takes place in

Gran, Norway is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Hadeland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Jaren. Othe ...

. * An explosion occurs outside the Natal Command HQ on

's beachfront. ;April * 2 –

SWAPO The South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO ; , SWAVO; , SWAVO), officially known as the SWAPO Party of Namibia, is a political party and former independence movement in Namibia (formerly South West Africa). Founded in 1960, it has been ...

violates the border war cease-fire by invading

South West Africa South West Africa was a territory under Union of South Africa, South African administration from 1915 to 1990. Renamed ''Namibia'' by the United Nations in 1968, Independence of Namibia, it became independent under this name on 21 March 1990. ...

from Angola and nearly 300 are killed. ;May * 5 – Three South African Embassy staff are ordered to leave Britain within 7 days because of the attempted smuggling of a

Blowpipe missile The Shorts Blowpipe is a man-portable (MANPADS) surface-to-air missile that was in use with the British Army and Royal Marines from 1975 to 1985. It also saw service in other military forces around the world. Most examples were retired by the ...

. * The

South African Air Force The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air warfare branch of South African National Defence Force, with its headquarters in Pretoria. The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force saw service in World War II a ...

'
Klippan Radar Station
in the Western

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; ...

comes under mortar attack. ;June * Four bystanders are 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 under a police vehicle in Duduza. * A limpet mine explodes under a vehicle parked outside a policeman's home in

Tsakane Tsakane, also known as Tsakani, is a township located in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established during the early 1960s due to Apartheid's segregationist policies and was formally founded as a designated area. Tsakane is a Tsonga wor ...

. * A grenade is thrown at a police patrol in Tsakane. * A limpet mine explodes in a rubbish bin outside the home of a policeman in

. * A bomb shatters the windows of

KwaThema KwaThema is a township south-west of Springs in the district of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1951 when Africans were forcibly removed from Payneville because it was considered by the apartheid government to be too clos ...

Police station's dining hall. * A limpet mine explodes at the Police single quarters in Ratanda. * A limpet mine explodes at the home of Boetie Abramjee, a

National Party National Party or Nationalist Party may refer to: Active parties * National Party of Australia, commonly known as ''The Nationals'' * Bangladesh: ** Bangladesh Nationalist Party ** Jatiya Party (Ershad) a.k.a. ''National Party (Ershad)'' * Californ ...

MP. ;July * 5 – State President P.W. Botha and

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

, in prison at the time, meet for the first time. * 23 – An explosive device planted at Athlone Magistrate's Court and police complex detonates prematurely, killing two

members. ;August * 15 – P.W. Botha resigns and F.W. de Klerk succeeds him as acting State President. * A grenade is thrown into a Labour Party polling station in

Bishop Lavis Bishop Lavis is a suburb of Cape Town, located east of the city centre near Cape Town International Airport. It had, as of 2001, a population of 44,419 people, of whom 97% described themselves as Coloured, and 90% spoke Afrikaans Afrik ...

. * The

Brixton Brixton is an area of South London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Brixton experienced a rapid rise in population during the 19th century ...

Flying Squad HQ is attacked with hand grenades and

AK-47 The AK-47, officially known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova (; also known as the Kalashnikov or just AK), is an assault rifle that is chambered for the 7.62×39mm cartridge. Developed in the Soviet Union by Russian small-arms designer Mikhail Kala ...

s. * Lt-Col. Frank Zwane, a former liaison officer for the police, and his two sons are injured in a grenade attack in

. * An explosion occurs at the Athlone Police Station. ;September * 2 – "Purple Rain Protest" rioters in Greenmarket Square, Cape Town are sprayed with a purple dye. The resulting graffiti, " The purple shall govern" graces the pages of newspapers worldwide. * 20 – F.W. de Klerk becomes the 9th

State President of South Africa The State President of the Republic of South Africa () was the head of state of South Africa from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country 1960 South African republic referendum, became a republic on 31 May 1961, outside the ...

. * A police patrol is ambushed by cadres (terrorists) in

. * A mini-limpet mine explodes outside the

Mamelodi Mamelodi is a township northeast of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. A part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, it was set up by the then apartheid government in 1953. Etymology Ahmed Kathrada Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada OMSG (21 August 1929 – 28 March 2017), sometimes known by the nickname "Kathy", was a South African politician and anti-apartheid activist. Kathrada's involvement in the anti-apartheid activities of the African Natio ...

, Jafta Masemola,

Raymond Mhlaba Raymond Mphakamisi Mhlaba OMSG (12 February 1920 – 20 February 2005) was an anti-apartheid activist, Communist and leader of the African National Congress (ANC) who became the first premier of the Eastern Cape. Mhlaba spent 25 years of his ...

Wilton Mkwayi Wilton Zimasile Mkwayi OMSG (17 December 1923 – 24 July 2004) was an African National Congress veteran and one of the first six members of Umkonto weSizwe to be sent for military training. Early life Wilton “Bri-Bri” Zimasile Mkwayi was ...

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 ...

Elias Motsoaledi Elias Mathope Motsoaledi OMSG (26 July 1924 – 9 May 1994) was a South African anti-apartheid activist. He was Accused No.9 in the Rivonia Trial and was sentenced to life imprisonment in July 1963 with a group of anti-Apartheid revolution ...

, Oscar Mpetha and

Walter Sisulu Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu (18 May 1912 – 5 May 2003) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist and member of the African National Congress (ANC). Between terms as ANC Secretary-General (1949–1954) and ANC ...

were released from custody of Apartheid government after some spending more than two decades in prison of

Robben Island Robben Island () 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 language, Dutch word for seals (''robben''), hence the Dutch/Afrika ...

and other prisons. * A bomb explodes outside the BP centre in

Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...

and another at Woodstock minutes later. ;November * 27 – The

Hex River Tunnels The four Hex River Tunnels consist of a twin tunnel of and three single tunnels of , and , on the Hexton railway route between De Doorns and Kleinstraat through the Hex River Mountains of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The line, wh ...

system is officially opened. The system's longest tunnel at long is the longest railway tunnel in Africa.South African Panorama, October 1989, p. 25 * 30 – Judgement was handed down by the Appellate Division under Chief Judge Michael Corbett in the Administrator, Cape, v Ntshwaqela case. ;Unknown date * The Hluhluwe and Umfolozi Game Reserves are joined through the Corridor Reserve as the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve. * The government starts dismantling its six nuclear fission devices.

Births

* 15 January –

Akhumzi Jezile Akhumzi Jezile (15 January 1989 – 28 April 2018) born in Ngcobo, Eastern Cape, Ngcobo, was a South African actor, television presenter and producer. He is best known for being a presenter on the SABC 1 television show, ''YOTV'' and an actor in ...

, actor, television presenter and producer (d. 2018) * 15 January –

Kylie Louw Kylie Ann Louw (born 15 January 1989, Johannesburg) is a South African former footballer who played as a midfielder. She played for Stephen F. Austin State University. She represented the South Africa women's national soccer team at the 2012 Sum ...

, footballer * 21 January – Brady Barends, cricketer * 4 February –

Nkosi Johnson Nkosi Johnson (born Xolani Nkosi; – ) was a South African child with HIV and AIDS who greatly influenced public perceptions of the pandemic and its effects before his death at the age of 12. He was ranked fifth amongst SABC3's Great ...

, HIV/AIDS (d. 2001) * 10 February – Simon Harmer, cricketer * 22 February –

JJ Engelbrecht Johannes Jacobus Engelbrecht (born 22 February 1989) is a former South African professional rugby union player who played as a Wing (rugby union), wing or Centre (rugby union), outside centre. Rugby career Youth Engelbrecht attended Grey Hig ...

, rugby player * 24 February – Lauren Brant; Australian entertainer * 9 March – Carina Horn, sprinter * 9 March – Luthando Shosha, tv presenter & radio personality * 22 March – Coenie Oosthuizen, rugby player * 24 March – Jennifer Fry, badminton player * 4 April – Dane Paterson, cricketer * 13 April – Gerhard van den Heever, rugby union player * 28 April – Alistair Vermaak, rugby union player * 4 May –

Trevor Nyakane Trevor Ntando Nyakane (born 4 May 1989) is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and also the South Africa national rugby team, His regular playing position is prop a ...

, rugby player * 11 May –

Ashleigh Buhai Ashleigh Ann Buhai (née Simon, born 11 May 1989) is a South African professional golfer who won the 2022 Women's Open, one of the major championships in women's golf. Amateur career Buhai had a successful amateur career. She was the younges ...

, golfer * 14 May – Melinda Bam, beauty pageant contestant and model * 2 June –

Dean Burmester Dean Burmester (born 2 June 1989) is a South African professional golfer who plays in the LIV Golf League, as well as having status on the European Tour and Sunshine Tour. He formerly played on the PGA Tour. Early life Burmester was born in Muta ...

, golfer * 10 June – David Miller, cricketer * 18 July – Mandla Masango, football player * 25 July – Victor Hogan, discus thrower * 26 July – Ross Cronjé, rugby union player * 30 July –

Wayne Parnell Wayne Dillon Parnell (born 30 July 1989) is a South African professional cricketer who has played Test cricket, Test, One Day International and Twenty20 International cricket for the South Africa national cricket team. At domestic level he playe ...

, cricketer * 2 August – Vanes-Mari Du Toit, netball player * 2 August – Rudy Paige, rugby player * 3 August – Themba Zwane, football player * 5 August –

Darren Keet Darren Keet (born 5 August 1989) is a South African soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper. Keet is currently playing for Cape Town City in the PSL. Club career Born in Cape Town, Keet was a member of the Vasco Da Gama squad that won promoti ...

, footballer * 9 August –

Lunga Shabalala Lunga Shabalala (born 22 May 1989), is a South African actor, TV presenter and model. He rose to fame as a presenter on the SABC 1 entertainment and variety TV show, ''Selimathunzi''. He got his first acting role on the soap opera '' The River, ...

, actor & tv personality. * 18 August – Willie le Roux, rugby player * 13 September – Jurgen Visser, rugby union player * 15 September

Nandipha Magudumana Nandipha Magudumana (née Sekeleni; otherwise known as Dr Nandipha) is a South African medical practitioner and celebrity doctor born in Bizana, Eastern Cape, and raised in Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal. She graduated from the University of the ...

, celebrity doctor * 4 October – Madoda Yako, rugby union player * 9 October –

Rilee Rossouw Rilee Roscoe Rossouw (born 9 October 1989) is a South African cricketer who played for the South African cricket team. Rossouw currently represents Pretoria Capitals, Quetta Gladiators and Jaffna Kings. He is a left-hand batsman and a right a ...

, cricketer * 25 October –

Lejeanne Marais Lejeanne Marais (born 25 October 1989) is a South African former competitive figure skater. She is a five-time (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013) South African national champion and competed in the free skate at six Four Continents Championships ...

, figure skater * 6 November – Cherise Taylor, road cyclist * 18 December –

Thulani Hlatshwayo Thulani Tyson Hlatshwayo (born 18 December 1989) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Supersport United. Career Ajax Cape Town Hlatshwayo was born in Soweto, Gauteng. He made his professional debut for Aj ...

South africa national football team The South Africa national soccer team represents South Africa in men's international soccer and is run by the South African Football Association, the governing body for soccer in South Africa. Nicknamed Bafana Bafana (The Boys in Zulu), the ...

captain * 25 December – Pat O'Brien, rugby union player * 29 December – Sibusiso Vilakazi, football player

Deaths

* 1 May – David Webster, academic and activist. (b. 1944) * 22 May – Steven De Groote, classical pianist. (b. 1953) * 12 September – Anton Lubowski, advocate and secretary-general of

. (b. 1952)

Railways

Locomotives

* A Class

Garratt locomotive A Garratt locomotive is a type of articulated steam locomotive invented by the engineer Herbert William Garratt that is articulated into three parts. Its boiler, firebox, and cab are mounted on a centre frame or "bridge". The two other p ...

is rebuilt to Class NG G16A by the

Alfred County Railway Alfred County Railway is an abandoned Narrow gauge railway, narrow gauge railway in South Africa, which runs from the southern transport hub of Port Shepstone on the Indian Ocean, via Izotsha and Paddock, South Africa, Paddock for to Harding, ...

.Information supplied by Phil Girdlestone * The South African Railways places the first of twenty-five Class 10E2 electric locomotives with a Co-Co wheel arrangement in mainline service.South African Railways Index and Diagrams Electric and Diesel Locomotives, 610mm and 1065mm Gauges, Ref LXD 14/1/100/20, 28 January 1975, as amended

Sports

Athletics

* 25 February – Willie Mtolo wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:13:13 in

Port Elizabeth Gqeberha ( , ), formerly named Port Elizabeth, and colloquially 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 Municipal ...

References

{{Africa topic, 1989 in, state=collapsed

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

Years in South Africa