1983 in South Africa

1 Events

Events

January

26 January – One person is killed and five injured by a bomb the explodes at the New Brighton Community Council offices
30 January – A bomb explodes at the Pietermaritzburg Supreme Court Explosion

February

10 February – Umkhonto we Sizwe cadres burn 5 square kilometres of land in the Richards Bay area in an arson attack
11 February – The Drakensberg Administration Board offices are damaged by a bomb
12 February – A bomb injures 76 people at the Free State Administration Board offices
20 February – Umkhonto we Sizwe cadres try to set the Pelindaba Nuclear Research Station on fire in an arson attack

March

12 March – A bomb on railway coach on Johannesburg bound passenger train explodes
21 March – Second bomb explodes at the Supreme Court in Pietermaritzburg

April

21 April – Third bomb explodes at the Supreme Court in Pietermaritzburg
30 April – The Prime Minister of South Africa, Pieter Willem Botha meets with Lesotho's Minister of Foreign Affairs to discusses the Lesotho Highlands Water Project

May

Two two explosions cause R250 000 worth of damage to the Offices of the Department of Internal Affairs in Roodepoort
In a skirmish on the Botswana border leaves four terrorists or freedom fighters and a South African Army soldier dead
13 May – An explosive device (37 kg of explosives in gas cylinder) is found and defused by police under a bridge on Southern Freeway, Durban
20 May – A car bomb explodes during the afternoon rush hour outside the South African Air Force Head Quarters, opposite building housing military intelligence personnel in Pretoria. (19 killed and 217 injured)

June

17 June – Police defuse a bomb found on a power pylon at New Canada railway station in Soweto
28 June – Bomb explodes at the Department of Internal Affairs in Roodepoort

July

7 July – Two bombs are found and defused at the Durban Supreme Court while in Roodepoort two bombs detonate at 00:40 causing structural damage to the Department of Internal Affairs and the Police Station

August

6 August – A Bomb explodes at Temple Israel in Hillbrow just before Marais Steyn is due to speak there; no injuries
20 August – A bomb causes R100,000 damage to a sub-station near Mamelodi
26 August – A Limpet mine explodes at 18:50 at the Ciskei (former Bantustan)consular generals offices in the Carlton Centre, Johannesburg; one injured

September

8 September – Two bombs damage sub-stations in the Johannesburg area (Randburg and Sandton)
11 September – More sub-stations are damaged by Limpet mines In Johannesburg (Bryanston North and Fairland)
12 September – Ciskei offices in Pretoria are damaged by a Limpet mine
13 September – A bomb expodes at 19h45 in the Rowntree factory in Umbilo, Durban
29 September – Police defuses a bomb that was found on a electrical pylon in Vereeniging

October

11 October – Limpet mines explode at 02:20 and damage a large fuel storage tanks, three rail tankers and one road tanker at Bela Bela (previously Warmbaths). Two more devices set to explode 1 hour later were found on door of Civil Defence office. PW Botha was due to speak in Warmbaths
14 October – two electricity pylons near Pietermaritzburg are destroyed by Limpet mines at 02:00 and 03:00

November

1 November – Buses at municipal bus depot in Durban are damaged by a bomb that explodes at midnight

– The railway line at Germiston is damaged by a bomb

– Police defuse a bomb on the railway line near Springs

2 November – A bomb that expodes at 02:55 at the Police workshop in Wentworth, Durban damages vehicles and an adjacent student residence (Alan Taylor Residence)
3 November – The Bosmont railway station is damaged by a bomb

– Bosmont/Newclare railway line damaged in explosion

– The railway line near Germiston damaged by explosion

– Police defuseThe railway line near Springs; explosives defused

22 November – Electrical pylons are damaged by two explosions near Durban

December

3 or 7 December – Bomb explodes at the office of Department of Community Development in Bree Street, Johannesburg
8 December – the railway line 1km from Bloemfontein is mulishly damaged and a locomotive and two trucks are derailed
12 December – Seven people are injured when a Limpet mine explodes at the offices of Department of Community Development and Commissioners Court in Johannesburg
15 December – Three bombs explode on the beach front outside the Natal Command HQ in Durban
19 December – A bomb causes R60,000 worth of damage to the KwaMashu (Durban)township offices

Unknown date

A new Constitution provides for a tricameral parliament for coloureds, Indians and whites
United Democratic Front is launched by 575 community groups, trade unions, sporting bodies, women's and youth organizations

Categories: 1983 | Years in South Africa