Timeline

Britain hands over power to white Union of South Africa

ANC (SANNC) founding conference

ICU founded

Formation of CPSA

Strike by 100 000 African miners

CPSA disbands in anticipation of being banned

Defiance Campaign

SACP succeeds CPSA

Formation of FEDSAW.

60 000 Africans removed at gunpoint from Johannesburg's Western Areas under the Group Areas Act

SACTU formed

Congress of the People. Declared SA Freedom Day

20 000 women march on Pretoria. Declared South African Women's Day

Sharpeville massacre where 69 people were killed in pass law protest

Oliver Tambo leaves SA to establish ANC mission in exile

South Africa's first State of Emergency declared; over 2 000 detained

Chief AJ Luthuli, president of ANC, awarded Nobel Peace Prize.

First armed actions by MK. Declared Heroes Day.

Looksmart Ngudle, the first political prisoner tortured to death.

Looksmart Ngudle, the first political prisoner tortured to death.

Rivonia trial ends. Life sentences for Mandela, Sisulu, Mbeki, Goldberg, Kathrada, Mlangeni, Mhlaba, Motsoaledi.

SACTU activists Vuyisile Mini, Wilson Khayinga, Zinakile Mkaba hanged

'I believe in the supremacy of the white man over his people in his own territory and I am prepared to maintain it by force'. - John Vorster in parliament.

First large contingents of South African conscripts sent to Namibia.

Strike wave launched in Natal, opening a new wave of trade union organisation throughout the country.

SA invades Angola.

Soweto uprising. Declared SA Youth Day.

Steve Biko dies in police detention.

organisations and two newspapers banned.

Solomon Mahlangu hanged. He said: 'My blood shall nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom'.

Zimbabwe independence.

ANC and SACTU exiles massacred at Matola in Mozambique by SA army.

MK attacks Sasol fuel complex.

Griffiths Mxenge, UDF lawyer, hacked to death by apartheid agents.

Death of Neil Aggett in police detention.

Assassination of Ruth First in Maputo by parcel bomb.

SA raid into Lesotho kills 42.

MK cadres Mosololi, Motaung, Moegerane executed.

Launch of UDF in Cape Town.

Nkomati Accord, non-aggression treaty, signed by SA and Mozambique.

Assassination of Jeanette Schoon and daughter Katryn by parcel bomb sent by SA agents.

Coloured elections for tri-cameral parliament yield 17% poll.

Vaal uprising.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu awarded Nobel Peace Prize.

First National ECC Conference at Botha's Hill, Durban

Langa Massacre: 20 shot dead by police in Uitenhage.

SADF raids Harare, Gaborone and Lusaka.

SADF raids Gaborone, killing 12.

Funeral of Cradock 4.

Second State of Emergency declared.

Victoria Mxenge assassinated at her home in Durban.

Malesela Benjamin Moloise executed in defiance of international calls for clemency.

State of Emergency extended to entire country.

Formation of COSATU.

Third State of Emergency declared.

President Samora Machel of Mozambique killed in plane crash.

Dr Fabian and Florence Ribiero assassinated.

COSATU headquarters bombed.

ANC headquarters in Lusaka bombed by SA.

SA army defeated after six months battle against Angolan troops backed by Cuban solidarity forces.

Dulcie September, ANC chief representative in Paris, assassinated by SA agents.

Khotso House, headquarters of SA Council of Churches blown up.

David Webster killed on May Day.

Defiance campaign against banning and restriction orders and against segregation in hospitals and other facilities.

Walter Sisulu and other Rivonia trialists released.

Conference for a Democratic Future.

ANC legalised after 30 years (SACP, PAC and 70 other organisations also unbanned).

Nelson Mandela released.

Namibia Independence Day.

First meeting between ANC and apartheid government; ends with joint commitment to peaceful negotiations.

Public relaunch of SACP at Soweto rally

ANC/MK suspends armed actions after 29 years.

Aug-Sept. Over 750 people killed in Aug-Sept wave of violence unleashed against the ANC as part of a strategy of destabilisation.