African Mission Begins
Begins an international mission on behalf of the liberation movement.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1962 in South Africa
Explore 33 historical events and records for South Africa in 1962.
Historical records for South Africa in 1962
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 33 of 33 unique records.
33Unique records
1 of 1Page
26Named events on this page
8Named people on this page
9Places on this page
January
Secret Departure from South Africa
Leaves South Africa secretly for military training and political support.
February
African Diplomatic Campaign
Builds diplomatic backing for the South African liberation struggle.
Pan-African Conference Mission
Addresses African leaders while seeking support for the ANC.
Reform of Government
Announces self-Government for Transkei, to show races can have self-development
Rule of Transkei
Announces self-Government for Transkei, to show races can have self-development
June
Legislation
The Sabotage Act prevents any banned person from being quoted in print. The Sabotage Act gives sabotage a minimum of 5 yrs in prison without parole. The Sabotage Act allows house arrests & bans which cannot be challenged in court
July
Clandestine Return
Resumes underground political and military organisational work.
Returns to South Africa
Returns secretly to South Africa after his African mission.
August
Arrest near Howick
Is arrested near Howick after months underground.
Arrest of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Arrested by the South African police, described in the press as the "Black Pimpernel"
Black Pimpernel Captured
Police capture the activist known publicly as the Black Pimpernel.
October
Trial
Opening day of the Nelson Mandela trial, the Rivonia Trial, de Wet is presiding Judge
Trial
Opening day of the Nelson Mandela trial, the Rivonia Trial, State Prosecutor
Trial
Opening day of the Nelson Mandela trial, legal adviser to Mandela
Conference of ANC
The Conference links the ANC with the MK, the Umkhonto military wing. The ANC holds its 1st annual conference since 1959, in Bechuanaland
November
Five Year Sentence
Receives five years imprisonment after conviction.
Incitement and Passport Conviction
Is sentenced for incitement and leaving South Africa illegally.
Sanctions
The United Nations General Assembly votes in favour of sanctions against South Africa
Trial
Mandela represents himself & has Joe Slovo as a legal adviser. Mandela is convicted of incitement & leaving the country illegally, given 5 yrs
Trial
Mandela represents himself & has Joe Slovo as a legal adviser
Trial
Acts of sabotage take place in Port Elizabet & Durban
United Nations
The United Nations General Assembly votes in favour of sanctions against South Africa
Other events (month unknown)
Armed Struggle Training
Studies guerrilla tactics before returning to South Africa.
Arrest of Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki
Arrested for belonging to the banned ANC
Conference of OAU
Leaves South Africa illegally to attend the Conference. ANC delegate at the Pan-African Freedom Movement for East, Central & Southern Africa
Exile of Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki
Illegally leaves South Africa for England
Military Training Abroad
Receives military training during his African journey.
Reform of Racial Laws
Announces self-Government for Transkei, to show races can have self-development. The Government tries out its policy of "separate development"
Sabotage Legislation Introduced
Vorster's justice ministry advanced sweeping sabotage provisions that gave the state broader powers to punish resistance activities.
Technical Co-operation in Africa
South Africa is expelled from the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa
Trial
Mandela represents himself & has Joe Slovo as a legal adviser. Mandela is convicted of incitement & leaving the country illegally, given 5 yrs. The ANC sets up a "Free Nelson Mandela" Committee
Trial
Acts of sabotage take place in Port Elizabet & Durban. Public getherings in connection with the trial are banned
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.