PAC
The ANC & PAC are banned by the Unlawful Organisations Act. Membership of the ANC & the PAC is punishable by imprisonment
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1960 in South Africa — Page 3
Explore 131 historical events and records for South Africa in 1960.
Historical records for South Africa in 1960
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 131 unique records.
131Unique records
3 of 4Page
35Named events on this page
12Named people on this page
7Places on this page
April
Unlawful Organisations Act Enforcement
Open political activity by both liberation movements becomes illegal.
Unlawful Organisations Enforcement
Enforces legislation prohibiting both liberation organisations.
Assassination Attempt
David Pratt shoots Verwoerd at the Rand Easter Show.
Plot
Verwoerd is shot in the head by a Transvaal farmer
Plot
Verwoerd resumes duties 5 weeks later. Verwoerd is shot in the head by a Transvaal farmer
Rand Easter Show Shooting
Verwoerd survives serious injuries and later resumes office.
Francistown Transit
Arrives in Francistown while travelling north from South Africa.
Journey into Exile
Continues toward Tanganyika on the ANC external mission.
Legislation
The Referendum Act is passed
Referendum
The Referendum Act is passed
Referendum Act
The Referendum Act is passed
May
Anti-Pass Campaign Conviction
Refuses to accept the apartheid court's moral legitimacy.
Three Year Sentence
Is sentenced to three years imprisonment for incitement.
South African United Front
Represents the ANC in the South African United Front.
July
Anti-Pass Conviction
Defends pass burning as a moral protest against discriminatory law.
Pass Burning Trial
Faces trial for publicly destroying his reference book.
August
Referendum
Verwoerd announces the referendum on a republic will be held 5th October
Republic Referendum Date
Announces that the republic referendum will occur on 5 October.
Republic Vote Scheduled
Prepares white voters to decide South Africa's constitutional status.
Trial
Mandela 1st gives evidence at his trial
Defence Witness Testimony
Testifies as government allegations against Congress leaders are challenged.
Treason Trial Evidence
Gives evidence during the defence phase of the Treason Trial.
September
ANC
The ANC decides to go underground & dispense with its constitutional procedures
ANC Reorganisation
Supports clandestine political structures under intensified repression.
Banned Organisation Reorganised
Works within clandestine structures as legal political activity closes.
Constitution of South Africa
The ANC decides to go underground & dispense with its constitutional procedures
Underground ANC Activity
Helps reorganise ANC activity after the organisation is banned.
Underground Organisation
Helps maintain ANC organisation after the April banning.
October
Commonwealth
Wins a small majority of white referendum votes to South Africa out of the Commonwealth
Constitution of South Africa
90.5% of whites vote, 850,458 in favour of a republic & 775,878 against
Constitutional Transition
Remains Crown representative while voters approve a future republic.
Referendum
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
Republic Referendum Period
Serves as governor-general during the republic referendum.
Republic Referendum Victory
Wins a narrow majority for creating a South African republic.
White Electorate Approves Republic
Uses the referendum result to advance republican constitutional change.
Other events (month unknown)
African Diplomatic Mission
Builds political contacts with newly independent African states.
ANC
A massacre during an ANC & PAC demonstration
ANC Political Organisation
Supports ANC organisation during the transition to underground activity.
Armament
Helps found the military wing of the ANC, Umkhonto We Sizwe
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.