Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03

1956 in South Africa

Explore 18 historical events and records for South Africa in 1956.

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Historical records for South Africa in 1956

Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 18 of 18 unique records.

18Unique records

1 of 1Page

15Named events on this page

11Named people on this page

2Places on this page

February

1 February 1956

Closes the Russian consulate

Louw, Eric · Pretoria · Foreign Secretary of South Africa · Government / Government of South Africa

Closes the Russian consulate

August

9 August 1956

Anti-Pass Petition

Williams-De Bruyn, Sophia Theresa · Pretoria · Anti-Apartheid Activist · Politics / ANC

Participates in delivering petitions against discriminatory pass laws.

9 August 1956

Pass Law Petition

Joseph, Helen Beatrice · Pretoria · Anti-Apartheid Activist · Politics / ANC

Carries petitions to the seat of government with other leaders.

9 August 1956

Union Buildings Anti-Pass Protest

Ngoyi, Lilian Masediba · Pretoria · ANC Women's League President · Politics / ANC

Presents opposition to extending pass laws to African women.

9 August 1956

Union Buildings Demonstration

Moosa, Rahima · Pretoria · Anti-Apartheid Activist · Politics / ANC

Mobilizes opposition to compulsory passes for African women.

9 August 1956

Women's March

Joseph, Helen Beatrice · Pretoria · Anti-Apartheid Activist · Politics / ANC

Helps lead the national women's march against pass laws.

9 August 1956

Women's March

Moosa, Rahima · Pretoria · Anti-Apartheid Activist · Politics / ANC

Joins the four principal leaders of the women's march.

9 August 1956

Women's March

Ngoyi, Lilian Masediba · Pretoria · ANC Women's League President · Politics / ANC

Helps lead thousands of women to the Union Buildings.

9 August 1956

Women's March

Williams-De Bruyn, Sophia Theresa · Pretoria · Anti-Apartheid Activist · Politics / ANC

Helps lead the women's march to the Union Buildings.

December

5 December 1956

Treason Arrest

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla · Johannesburg · Treason Trial Defendant · Politics / ANC

Is arrested with other anti-apartheid activists for treason.

5 December 1956

Treason Trial Begins

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla · Johannesburg · Treason Trial Defendant · Politics / ANC

Joins the mass prosecution that becomes the Treason Trial.

Other events (month unknown)

1956

ANC

Mbeki, Thabo Mvuyelwa · Member of ANC · Politics / ANC

Appointed Member of ANC

1956

Arrest of Albert Lutuli

Lutuli, Albert · Pretoria · President of South Africa · Politics / ANC

Arrested for treason although never tried

1956

Coloured Voters Removed

Strijdom, Johannes Gerhardus · Pretoria · Prime Minister of South Africa · Government / Government of South Africa

Government completes removal of Coloured voters from the common roll.

1956

Legislation

Strijdom, Johennes Gerhardus · Prime Minister of South Africa · Government / Government of South Africa

Natives Prohibition of Interdicts Act, blacks cannot appeal to courts

1956

Party Leader

Villiers Graaff, David Pieter de · Party Leader of UP · Politics / United Party

Appointed Party Leader of the United Party

1956

Separate Electoral Roll Established

Strijdom, Johannes Gerhardus · Pretoria · Prime Minister of South Africa · Government / Government of South Africa

Constitutional changes entrench separate racial representation.

1956

Treason

Lutuli, Albert · Pretoria · President of South Africa · Politics / ANC

Arrested for treason although never tried

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How these records were prepared

Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.