Rule of Namibia
An attempt by Kurt Waldheim to negotiate with South Africa fails
Role range: 1966-1978
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Balthazar Johannes Vorster Biography and Timeline — Page 2
Follow Balthazar Johannes Vorster through 98 dated historical records for South Africa.
Balthazar Johannes Vorster, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
98Distinct records
2 of 3Page
1972–1976Years on this page
1972
Homeland Policy Continues
The government continued enforcing apartheid's homeland system and restrictions on the political rights of black South Africans.
1973
Rule of Namibia
The United Nations declares SWAPO the only legally recognizable representitive of South West Africa. An attempt by Kurt Waldheim to negotiate with South Africa fails
Role range: 1966-1978
Durban Labour Unrest Challenges State
Major strikes by black workers in Durban exposed economic pressures and social tensions beneath Vorster's apartheid administration.
1974
Vorster declares in the Senate South Africa will not interfere in other
Vorster declares in the Senate South Africa will not interfere in other African nations. Declares in the Senate South Africa is prepared to enter into non-aggression pacts
Role range: 1966-1978
Rule of Namibia
The United Nations gives South Africa 6 months to transfer authority to South West Africa
Role range: 1966-1978
Brink
The Government bans Andre Brinkss Afrikaans novel, "Kennis van die Aand"
Role range: 1966-1978
CI
The student organisation CI is banned from receiving foreign funds
Role range: 1966-1978
NUSAS
The student organisation NUSAS is banned from receiving foreign funds
Role range: 1966-1978
General Election Strengthens Mandate
The National Party expanded its parliamentary representation in the 1974 election while excluding most South Africans from the franchise.
Regional Detente Policy Advanced
Vorster sought diplomatic understandings with neighbouring African governments as regional power relationships changed after Portugal's revolution.
1975
Independence of Mozambique
A Marxist black state takes over after independence from Portugal, a friendly power
Role range: 1966-1978
Independence of South Africa
A Marxist black state takes over after independence from Portugal, a friendly power
Role range: 1966-1978
Conference of OAU
South Africa is condemned by the African states at the OAU Conference
Role range: 1966-1978
Declaration of Dar es Salaam
South Africa is condemned by the African states at the OAU Conference
Role range: 1966-1978
Invasion of Angola
South Africa invades Angola
Role range: 1966-1978
Censorship
Newspaper editors come under strict censorship
Role range: 1966-1978
Conference of Turnhalle
South Africa opens the Turnhalle Conference to draft a constitution for South West Africa
Role range: 1966-1978
Constitution of South Africa
South Africa convenes the Turnhalle Conference to draft a South West Africa constitution
Role range: 1966-1978
Constitution of South Africa
South Africa opens the Turnhalle Conference to draft a constitution for South West Africa
Role range: 1966-1978
Rule of Namibia
South Africa convenes the Turnhalle Conference to draft a South West Africa constitution
Role range: 1966-1978
Invasion of Angola
South Africa invades Angola attacking the Marxist MPLA
Role range: 1966-1978
Invasion of Angola
South Africa invades Angola. The invasion force is withdrawn
Role range: 1966-1978
Angola Intervention Authorised
Vorster's government authorised South African military involvement in Angola during the civil war following Portuguese withdrawal.
Rhodesian Settlement Pressure Increases
Vorster urged Rhodesian leaders to consider negotiated political change as regional isolation threatened South African interests.
1976
Election
The United Nations adopts a resolution to hold free & open elections under its supervision
Role range: 1966-1978
Rule of Namibia
The United Nations adopts a resolution to hold free & open elections under its supervision
Role range: 1966-1978
Conference of OAU
The OAU condemns South Africas invasion of Angola
Role range: 1966-1978
Conference of OAU
The OAU condemns South Africa for its invasion of Angola
Role range: 1966-1978
Invasion of Angola
The United Nations Security Council condemns South Africa for its invasion of South Africa. The OAU condemns South Africas invasion of Angola
Role range: 1966-1978
Invasion of Angola
The OAU condemns South Africa for its invasion of Angola
Role range: 1966-1978
UN Security Council
The United Nations Security Council condemns South Africa for its invasion of South Africa
Role range: 1966-1978
UN Security Council
The United Nations Security Council condemns South Africa for its invasion of South Africa
Role range: 1966-1978
United Nations
The United Nations Security Council condemns South Africa for its invasion of South Africa
Role range: 1966-1978
Demonstrations
Demonstrations break out against a Government proposal to teach Afrikaans
Role range: 1966-1978
Demonstrations
Police open fire & 76 students are killed
Role range: 1966-1978
Demonstrations
The Government drops its proposal to teach Afrikaans
Role range: 1966-1978
Independence of South Africa
The Transkei is granted independence
Role range: 1966-1978 – 1966-1978
Independence of Transkei
The Transkei is granted independence
Role range: 1966-1978 – 1966-1978
Rule of Namibia
SWAPO & South Africa accept United Nations settlement proposals, followed by a breakdown. South Africa ignores United Nations resolutions & seeks to implement its own solution
Role range: 1966-1978
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.