1978 in South Africa
See also: 1977 in South Africa, other events of 1978, 1979 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history.
Table of contents |
Events
January
- Former African National Congress member, Steve Mtshali who turned state witness in various trials is shot and wounded
February
- An unexploded bomb "capable of destroying 22 story building is found in a Johannesburg office block and defused
- 2 February – Guerrillas attack the Daveyton police station
March
- 10 March – Bomb explodes outside the offices of the Bantu Affairs building in Port Elizabeth. One civilian is killed and three injured
April
- 14 April – Former deputy president of the African National Congress in the Transvaal, Abel Mthembu turns state witness at the Pretoria ANC trial
May
- 4 May – South African Defence Force airborne raid on Cassinga, Angola. See: Battle of Cassinga
- Ishmael Mkhabela and Lybon Mabasa, two members of the Azanian People's Organisation are arrested in Soweto
August
- 21 August – Marais Viljoen becomes 5th State President of South Africa
September
- Black September episode – The African National Congress attempts to kill about 500 cadres by poisoning their food because an enermy agent had escaped the screening procedures and could not be identified.
- 29 September – PW Botha succeds Balthazar Johannes Vorster as 9th Prime Minister of South Africa
October
December
- December – Bomb explodes at the Soweto Community Council offices
Unknown date
- George Bizos becomes a senior member of the Johannesburg Bar
- South Africa's Atomic Energy Corporation built South Africa's first nuclear weapon device
Births
Deaths
- Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolum, a legendary Indian golfer from South Africa dies
Categories: 1978 | Years in South Africa