Reform of Government
President de Klerk & Nelson Mandela hold talks
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1990 in South Africa
Explore 31 historical events and records for South Africa in 1990.
Historical records for South Africa in 1990
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 31 of 31 unique records.
31Unique records
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21Named events on this page
4Named people on this page
4Places on this page
January
Reform of Political System
President de Klerk & Nelson Mandela hold talks
February
ANC
Announces lifting the 30 yr ANC ban, prohibited since Sharpville in 1960
ANC
de Klerk announces lifting the 30 yr ANC ban, prohibited since Sharpville in 1960
PAC
Announces lifting the 30 yr PAC ban, prohibited since Sharpville in 1960
Arrest of Nelson Mandela
Mandela is released from prison after 27yrs
Arrest of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Mandela is released from prison after 27yrs
Freedom after Twenty-Seven Years
Ends more than twenty-seven years of imprisonment.
Release from Prison
Walks free from Victor Verster Prison.
Independence of Namibia
The Republic of Namibia becomes an independent state. South Africa withdraws from Namibia
Independence of South Africa
The Republic of Namibia becomes an independent state. South Africa withdraws from Namibia
March
ANC Deputy Presidency
Is elected deputy president of the newly unbanned ANC.
Senior ANC Leadership
Takes a central role in negotiations with the government.
May
ANC
Negotiations began with a meeting between the African National Congress and the South African Government at the presidential residence, Groote Schuur. Groote Schuur Minute, a commitment to the resolution of the climate of violence and intimidation as well as the removal of practical obstacles to negotiations including indemnity from prosecution for returning exiles & release of political prisoners
Groote Schuur Minute
Groote Schuur Minute, a commitment to the resolution of the climate of violence and intimidation as well as the removal of practical obstacles to negotiations including indemnity from prosecution for returning exiles & release of political prisoners
Negotiations
Negotiations between Mandela & de Klerk begin
Negotiations
Negotiations between Mandela & de Klerk begin
June
State of Emergency
Announces an end to the 4 yr state of national emergency, except for Natal
August
ANC
The South African Government and the African National Congress extend their consensus to include several new points, the Pretoria Minute includes the suspension of the armed struggle by the ANC and its military wing Umkhonto we Sizwe
Umkhonto We Sizwe
The South African Government and the African National Congress extend their consensus to include several new points, the Pretoria Minute includes the suspension of the armed struggle by the ANC and its military wing Umkhonto we Sizwe
Exile of Oliver Tambo
Arrested by the South African police, described in the press as the "Black Pimpernel"
Negotiations
The ANC announce the suspension of the "armed struggle"
Negotiations
The ANC announce the suspension of the "armed struggle"
September
ANC
The National Peace Accord is a critical step toward formal negotiations, signed by representatives of 27 political organisations and national and homeland Governments, and prepares the way for the CODESA negotiations
CODESA
The National Peace Accord is a critical step toward formal negotiations, signed by representatives of 27 political organisations and national and homeland Governments, and prepares the way for the CODESA negotiations
October
Apartheid
The South African National Party opens its membership to all races
November
State of Emergency
The State of Emergency is lifted
Other events (month unknown)
Apartheid
Passes legislation which abolishes Apartheid
Exile of Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki
Returns to South Africa after the ANC ban is lifted
Negotiations
Negotiates with the South African Government & President de Klerk
Reform of Racial Laws
Passes legislation which abolishes Apartheid
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.