Health Crisis
Temporarily steps back from presidential duties during recovery.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1989 in South Africa
Explore 43 historical events and records for South Africa in 1989.
Historical records for South Africa in 1989
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 43 unique records.
43Unique records
1 of 2Page
33Named events on this page
6Named people on this page
5Places on this page
January
Stroke
Suffers a stroke that weakens his political position.
February
ANC
Announces the lifting of the ban on the ANC during the opening of Parliament
ANC
President de Klerk announces his intention to lift the ANC ban
Arrest of Nelson Mandela
Announces the intention to release Nelson Mandela during the opening of Parliament
Botha Succession
Positions himself to succeed Botha as head of government.
Communist Party
Announces the lifting of the ban on the Communist Party
De Klerk Succession
F W de Klerk subsequently succeeds him as party leader.
National Party Leadership
Is chosen National Party leader after P W Botha resigns.
National Party Leadership Resignation
Resigns as National Party leader after his stroke.
Arrest of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela is released from prison
Arrest of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Released from the Victor Verster prison after 27 years
Arrest of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Mandela is released from prison
March
Deputy President
Appointed Deputy President of the African National Congress
July
Meeting with Nelson Mandela
Meets imprisoned Nelson Mandela at Tuynhuys.
Tuynhuys Meeting
The meeting signals growing contact between government and Mandela.
September
Constitution of South Africa
Wins an election to offer representation for all elements of the population
Election
Wins an election to offer representation for all elements of the population
President of South Africa
Appointed President of South Africa
De Klerk Presidency Begins
Begins the presidency that leads into constitutional negotiations.
State President Inauguration
Is inaugurated as State President at the Union Buildings.
Inauguration
Innaugarated as President of South Africa
October
Arrest of Nelson Mandela
de Klerk announces the release of Mandela
Arrest of Nelson Mandela
de Klerk announces the release of Mandela
Arrest of Walter Sisulu
de Klerk announces the release of Sisulu
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth supports sanctions against South Africa, ossinly Britain is opposed. The Commonwealth supports sanctions against South Africa, only Britain is opposed
Conference of CHOGM
The Commonwealth supports sanctions against South Africa, only Britain is opposed
Sanctions
The Commonwealth supports sanctions against South Africa, ossinly Britain is opposed
Other events (month unknown)
Assassination of Abu Baker Aswat
Abu Baker Aswat, a Soweto doctor, is killed, Thulani Dlamini is later convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison, in 1997 Dlamini testifies in that Winnie Madikizela Mandela paid him for the murder
Declaration of Harare
Declares the Government must remove troops from the townships. Declares the Government must release political prisoners. Declares the Government must lift bans on political parties. Declares the Government must end the State of Emergency
Demonstrations
Legalizes mass demonstrations for the first time since 1976
Health of Pieter Botha
Resigns the party leadership & presidency after suffering a stroke
Independence of South Africa
South Africa gives up control of South West Africa
Legislation
States the Reservation of Separate Amenities Act will be repealed. Opens South African beaches to all races
Legislation
Legalizes mass demonstrations for the first time since 1976
Party Leader
Replaces Botha as Party Leader of the South Africa National Party
Plan-5yr
The ANC formulate a "5yr plan" for "group rights". No racial group should have precedence
Political Parties
Declares the Government must lift bans on political parties
President of South Africa
Appointed interim President following the illness of President Botha
Reform of Government
States the Reservation of Separate Amenities Act will be repealed. Opens South African beaches to all races
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.