20 January 1960Constitution of South AfricaHendrik Frensch Verwoerd
During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic
Historical records for South Africa in 1960, rendered directly from the World History Database and ordered by month, day and event.
During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic
During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic
During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic
Rejects external pressure to dismantle the apartheid system.
Receives Harold Macmillan's Wind of Change speech before Parliament.
MacMillan makes a speech before the South African Parliament, the "winds of change"
MacMillan makes a speech before the South African Parliament, the "winds of change"
Challenges government allegations against Congress Alliance leaders.
Participates as the defence opens its Treason Trial case.
Announces that the PAC will begin its anti-pass campaign.
Calls for disciplined nonviolent protest against compulsory passes.
Authorises instructions for the 21 March campaign.
Urges supporters to leave passes at home and surrender peacefully.
Leaves South Africa shortly before the anti-pass campaign.
Begins organising international representation for the PAC.
The PAC announces it will launch its anti-pass law campaign, seperate from the ANC
After the Sharpville massacre the ANC & PAC are banned
Seeks arrest as part of the PAC anti-pass campaign.
Defends government security policy amid international condemnation.
World opinion turns against apartheid. Over 400 are wounded, including women & children. For the 1st time the United Nations intervenes in South Africa. Black protestors are massacred protesting against apartheid pass laws, 69 are killed. After the Sharpville massacre the ANC & PAC are banned
Presents himself at Orlando police station without a pass.
The PAC announces it will launch its own anti-pass law campaign
The PAC announces it will launch its anti-pass law campaign, seperate from the ANC
Faces a national political crisis after police killings at Sharpeville.
Is charged with incitement alongside Robert Sobukwe.
Is charged with incitement following the anti-pass campaign.
Faces prosecution for organising the PAC anti-pass campaign.
Faces prosecution with other PAC leaders after Sharpeville.
Uses mass voluntary arrest to challenge the pass system.
Leads Langa residents to surrender themselves for arrest.
Urges peaceful resistance to the pass system after Sharpeville.
Participates in coordinated defiance against pass restrictions.
Supports national resistance to the pass laws.
Joins public defiance against the pass system after Sharpeville.
Joins Mandela and Nokwe in publicly rejecting pass controls.
Burns his pass during the ANC protest in Orlando.
Publicly burns his reference book in protest against pass laws.
Burns his pass with other ANC leaders in Orlando.
Burns his pass publicly alongside other ANC leaders.
Burns his pass during the coordinated ANC protest.
Publicly burns his pass during a demonstration
Publicly burns his pass in front of the press
Publicly burns his pass in front of the press
50,000 demonstrate against the pass laws in the township of Langa
Begins building international support for sanctions and political pressure.
Leaves South Africa on instructions from the ANC leadership.
The ANCs Day of Mourning for the Sharpeville Massacre
Calls a national day of mourning for Sharpeville victims.
The ANCs national stay-at-home day. The ANCs Day of Mourning for the Sharpeville Massacre
50,000 demonstrate against the pass laws in the township of Langa
Supports a nationwide stay-at-home against racial repression.
The Government suspends habeas corpus. The Government declares a State of Emergency. South Africa is placed under martial law
Faces repression as emergency powers restrict political activity.
Leads tens of thousands from Langa toward central Cape Town.
Is detained during the state of emergency crackdown.
Is detained with thousands of activists during the emergency.
Is caught in the government crackdown on ANC leadership.
Emergency regulations expand government powers following Sharpeville.
Emergency powers permit mass detention and restrictions on meetings.
Persuades the huge crowd to disperse peacefully after negotiations.
Joins thousands imprisoned following the Sharpeville crisis.
Government declares a state of emergency after Sharpeville.
Remains imprisoned as opposition leaders are detained.
Is detained after the government declares a state of emergency.
Remains imprisoned while Treason Trial proceedings continue.
Serves as governor-general during the declaration of emergency.
1st day of the ANC campaign against the Pass Laws
Anti-Pass Law deptutations are sent to local authorities
Questions whether existing apartheid policies can continue unchanged.
Arrested for 5 months
Expresses misgivings about government policy after Sharpeville.
Leads an anti-pass campaign
Government restores enforcement of pass laws after temporary suspension.
Pass controls resume during the post-Sharpeville emergency.
The ANC is banned until 1990. Membership of the ANC & the PAC is punishable by imprisonment
The ANC & PAC are banned by the Unlawful Organisations Act
Government bans the ANC and PAC under new legislation.
Announces the banning of the ANC and PAC.
The ANC & PAC are banned by the Unlawful Organisations Act
The ANC & PAC are banned by the Unlawful Organisations Act. Membership of the ANC & the PAC is punishable by imprisonment
The ANC & PAC are banned by the Unlawful Organisations Act. Membership of the ANC & the PAC is punishable by imprisonment
Open political activity by both liberation movements becomes illegal.
Enforces legislation prohibiting both liberation organisations.
David Pratt shoots Verwoerd at the Rand Easter Show.
Verwoerd is shot in the head by a Transvaal farmer
Verwoerd resumes duties 5 weeks later. Verwoerd is shot in the head by a Transvaal farmer
Verwoerd survives serious injuries and later resumes office.
Arrives in Francistown while travelling north from South Africa.
Continues toward Tanganyika on the ANC external mission.
The Referendum Act is passed
The Referendum Act is passed
The Referendum Act is passed
Refuses to accept the apartheid court's moral legitimacy.
Is sentenced to three years imprisonment for incitement.
Represents the ANC in the South African United Front.
Defends pass burning as a moral protest against discriminatory law.
Faces trial for publicly destroying his reference book.
Verwoerd announces the referendum on a republic will be held 5th October
Announces that the republic referendum will occur on 5 October.
Prepares white voters to decide South Africa's constitutional status.
Mandela 1st gives evidence at his trial
Testifies as government allegations against Congress leaders are challenged.
Gives evidence during the defence phase of the Treason Trial.
The ANC decides to go underground & dispense with its constitutional procedures
Supports clandestine political structures under intensified repression.
Works within clandestine structures as legal political activity closes.
The ANC decides to go underground & dispense with its constitutional procedures
Helps reorganise ANC activity after the organisation is banned.
Helps maintain ANC organisation after the April banning.
Wins a small majority of white referendum votes to South Africa out of the Commonwealth
90.5% of whites vote, 850,458 in favour of a republic & 775,878 against
Remains Crown representative while voters approve a future republic.
Wins a small majority of white referendum votes to South Africa out of the Commonwealth. 90.5% of whites vote, 850,458 in favour of a republic & 775,878 against
Serves as governor-general during the republic referendum.
Wins a narrow majority for creating a South African republic.
Uses the referendum result to advance republican constitutional change.
Builds political contacts with newly independent African states.
A massacre during an ANC & PAC demonstration
Supports ANC organisation during the transition to underground activity.
Helps found the military wing of the ANC, Umkhonto We Sizwe
Sentenced to 3 yrs imprisonment
Gives himsef up at Orlando police station to increase the membership of the PAC
Appointed Leader of the ANCs army, Umkhonto Wesizwe, "spear of the nation"
A massacre during an ANC & PAC demonstration
Works with Congress leaders as public political space closes.
Receives the Nobel Peace Prize for nonviolent opposition to apartheid and leadership in South Africa.
Helps establish PAC representation outside South Africa.
Escapes an assassination attempt
Helps found the military wing of the ANC, Umkhonto We Sizwe
The ANC flees to Mozambique & develops a military wing, Umkhonto We Sizwe
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