January 1961Constitution of South AfricaHendrik Frensch Verwoerd
Legislation is prepared to establish the Republic of South Africa
Historical records for South Africa in 1961, rendered directly from the World History Database and ordered by month, day and event.
Legislation is prepared to establish the Republic of South Africa
South Africa withdraws from the Commonwealth
Leaves court without conviction on the treason charges.
The court rejects the state high treason case.
Is acquitted with the remaining Treason Trial defendants.
Is acquitted at the conclusion of the Treason Trial.
Warns of mass action if government refuses negotiations.
Tries to keep South Africa within the Commonwealth but is forced to withdraw membership
Tries to keep South Africa within the Commonwealth but is forced to withdraw membership
Calls for a national convention on South Africa future.
South Africa leaves the Commonwealth. Despite leaving the Commonwealth preferential trade would continue
Organises protest demanding a democratic constitutional convention.
Calls for a national stay-at-home against the new republic.
South Africas membership of the Commonwealth is terminated
The Republic of South Africa comes into existence
Becomes the first State President of the Republic of South Africa.
Verwoerd forms a republican ministry
Replaces the governor-general as republican head of state.
Incites strike action
Threatens a nationwide campaign of non-co-operation. Releases a press release calling for a national constitutional convention
Releases a press release calling for a national constitutional convention
Raises the question of armed struggle with the Working Committee
Raises the question of armed struggle with the National Executive. Authorized by Congress to form a military organisation, separate from the ANC
Begins organising Umkhonto we Sizwe as a separate military structure.
Is asked to lead the ANC newly created armed wing.
Enters Cabinet as minister of community development and Coloured affairs.
Coloured Persons Reserves Act, apartheid legislation
Administers policies connected with apartheid urban restructuring.
Brings the election forward to October 1961
Urban Bantu Councils Act, apartheid legislation. Preservation of Coloured Areas Act, apartheid legislation
Coloured Persons Reserves Act, apartheid legislation
Appointed Minister of Coloured Affairs
Appointed Minister of Housing
Appointed Minister of Justice
Urban Bantu Councils Act, apartheid legislation
The National Party wins 105 seats & the United Party wins 53 seats
Founds Umkhonto we Sizwe, "The Spear of the Nation". Founds the High Command of the Umkhonto we Sizwe
Bombs are exploded at power stations & Government offices by Umkhonto we Sizwe
Killed during the planting of bombs at power stations & Government offices by Umkhonto
Bombs are exploded at power stations & Government offices by Umkhonto we Sizwe. A bombing campaign held on the Afikaner Dinganes day, anniversarry Blood River
Mandela helps direct the organisation initial sabotage strategy.
Leaflets are circulated nationally announcing the birth of Umkhonto we Sizwe
Umkhonto we Sizwe publicly announces its existence.
Bombs are exploded at power stations & Government offices by Umkhonto we Sizwe
Appointed Member of Umkhonto, military wing of the ANC
Appointed Member of Umkhonto, military wing of the ANC
The ANC is banned from South Africa
Uses disguises and secret travel to avoid arrest.
The Communist Party secretly reconstitutes itself as an underground organisation
Supports the idea of a national convention
Becomes the 1st South African Head of State which previously was the British monarch
Only 1 of the 12 party members of the House of Assembly retain their seat
Begins operating clandestinely after the ANC ban.
Supports the idea of a national convention
Appointed President of South Africa
Appointed Member of Umkhonto, military wing of the ANC
Appointed Member of Umkhonto, military wing of the ANC
Founds Umkhonto, "The Spear of the Nation", member of the High Command
Founds Umkhonto, "The Spear of the Nation", member of the High Command
This page is generated from stored World History Database records matching the exact country and year shown above. Exact duplicate display records are collapsed. Records without a month are listed after the monthly sections. Source provenance varies by record; formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.