This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.
1967
MK began a joint campaign with ZAPU, a people's army fighting for the liberation of Zimbabwe. They aimed to find a route into South Africa by first crossing the Zambezi River from Zambia and into Zimbabwe, then marching across Zimbabwe through Wankie Game reserve, and crossing the Limpopo River into South Africa.
Biko participated in the NUSAS (National Union of South African Students) Congress as a Wentworth Delegate at the July annual congress, which saw bitter reactions from black students when Rhodes University, the host institution, prohibited mixed accommodation or eating facilities at the conference site.
A group of black students began to seriously analyse their political predicament in NUSAS (National Union of South African Students), led by Biko.
Environmental Planning Act No 88:
Placed restrictions on the number of blacks who could be employed in the manufacturing industry in the larger industrial areas.
Assent gained: 19 June 1967; commencement date not found
IN FORCE: LAND.
The National Education Policy Act setting out the principles of Christian National Education (CNE) for white schools, is promulgated.
Sarah Carneson imprisoned for breach of banning order.
1 January 1967
South Africa:Signs multilateral Sugar Agreement of 1958.
10 January - 11 January 1967
B.J. Vorster and Chief Jonathan of Lesotho meet in Cape Town. A joint statement emphasizes their belief in peaceful co-existence. Economic aid and technical assistance are also proposed.
11 January 1967
The projected North Sotho 'nation' in the Northern Transvaal province is to run its own affairs of state. Matters passing to its control include education, finance, justice, public works, agriculture, forestry and community development.
18 January 1967
A report prepared by UNESCO, published in Paris, states that the policy of apartheid 'is not only an inadmissable answer to the racial and group conflict, but is itself the major cause of racial and group conflict there'. The report is based essentially on official government publications and reports from scientific and research institutions within and outside South Africa relating to discriminatory practices.
The Lesotho government invites all South African political refugees to make formal application to leave the country, to indicate proposed dates of departure and countries of choice. Transit rights through South Africa will be arranged.
19 January 1967
The National Party Parliamentary caucus nominates Dr. T.E. Donges, Minister of Finance since 1958 as candidate for the Presidency, on a second ballot. The United Party opposition nominates Major Piet van der Byl.
24 January 1967
Prime Minister B.J. Vorster announces in Cape Town that Dr. Donges, nominated as the government's candidate for the Presidency, has tendered his resignation as Minister of Finance. His portfolio is to be taken over by Dr. Diederichs. Mr. J.W. Haak becomes Minister of Economic Affairs and Dr. Carel de Wet, South African Ambassador in London will take over the portfolio of Mines and Planning.
27 January 1967
The head of the South African Defence Force, Commandant General Hiemstra, announces the successful conclusion of Anglo-South African talks on aspects of the Simonstown naval agreement for the defence of sea routes around Southern Africa.
7 February 1967
A bill is published, which requires every Coloured male between the ages 18-24 to register for selective service in training camps. It is passed in Committee on 8 March and approved 9 March 1967.
8 February 1967
A spokesman for the Royal Navy that the British Command at Simonstown Naval Base will close on 12 April 1967. South Africa will in future assume greater responsibility for the defence of the sea route around the Cape.
15 February 1967
Suppression of Communism Further Amendment Bill is approved by 106 votes to forty at its third reading. It is made retrospective to 27 June 1962.
18 February 1967
The government drops two Bills which were designed to enforce racial segregation on university campuses.
22 February 1967
The Minister of Defence, P.W. Botha, discloses that South Africa's northern borders are protected by a radar complex constituting an early warning system and that her coasts will be covered by the Decca navigational system costing R6m.
28 February 1967
The electoral college elects T.E. Donges as the next State President by 163 votes to fifty-two, cast for Major van der Byl.
2 March 1967
The Population Registration Amendment Bill, with reference to racial legislation concerning the Coloured population, is published. The President is empowered to define, by proclamation, the ethnic and other groups into which Coloured persons and Blacks may be classified.
3 March 1967
An official announcement by the government of Lesotho indicates that preparations for anti-South African political refugees to be flown from Lesotho across South Africa to other African states to the north have reached an advanced stage.
South Africa:Signs multilateral Convention on the International Hydrographic
4 March 1967
Dr. Theophilus Ebenhaezer Donges, is elected South Africa's second State President and will assume office on Republic Day, 31 May 1967.
6 March 1967
The Commission on Human Rights deplored the actions of the South African Government as "contrary to international law and international morality".
8 March 1967
Suppression of Communism Act No 24:
Prohibited certain persons from making or receiving donations for the benefit of certain organisations; prohibited others from practising as advocates, attorneys, notaries and conveyances, and extended the grounds for deporting people from the Republic.
Commenced: 8 March 1967
Repealed by s 73 of the Internal Security Act 74 of 1982.
13 March 1967
Discussions are conducted with Malawi on the occasion of a visit to South Africa by three Malawian Cabinet ministers.
South Africa:Signs treaties with Denmark, Sweden and Norway regarding the extension of the period of validity of the traffic rights at Zurich in respect of South African territory granted to SAS.
South Africa:Signs trade agreement with Malawi.
South Africa:Signs treaty with Lesotho on the amendment of the insured parcel agreement of 27 June 1963 and 1 July 1963.
27 March - 31 March 1967
The project of a dam across the Zambezi River at Cahora Bassa in Mozambique, involving the building of a hydro-electric power station, is discussed at talks with the South African government in Lisbon.
31 March 1967
A government spokesman in Gaborone, indicates that Botswana intends to curb the activities of 200 South African political refugees.
8 April 1967
The government publishes a Bill entitled the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages (Amendment) Bill. In effect, marriage between a white South African man and a 'non-white' woman, even if they were married abroad, will not be recognized in South Africa.
19 April 1967
The Minister of Defence announces in Paris that he has signed an agreement for the purchase of French submarines of the Daphne class, their cost being the equivalent of twelve million Pounds Sterling.
19 April 1967
Prime Minister B.J. Vorster declares at the opening of the Sixth Session of the Transkei Legislative Assembly that the government will assist blacks in their development and will transfer more functions and responsibilities to the government of the Transkei as the latter becomes able to handle them efficiently.
26 April 1967
A draft resolution on South West Africa is submitted to a special session of the United Nations General Assembly by fifty-six countries. It declares that obstruction to its proposals by South Africa will constitute a flagrant defiance of the authority of the United Nations and requests the Security Council to take enforcement action.
May 1967
President Banda of Malawi visited South Africa.
3 May 1967
An official announcement by the government of Lesotho indicates that preparations for anti-South African political refugees to be flown from Lesotho across South Africa to other African states to the north have reached an advanced stage.
South Africa:Signs multilateral Convention on the International Hydrographic Organisation.
15 May 1967
South Africa:Signs multilateral treaty on the extension of the International Wheat Agreement.
19 May 1967
The United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution establishing an eleven member United Nations Council for South West Africa to administer the Territory and to enter immediately into contact with South Africa to lay down procedures for its transfer. The resolution is supported by eighty-five votes, two against (Portugal and South Africa) and thirty abstentions, including the USSR, the United States, Great Britain and France.
31 May 1967
Senator J.F. Naudê becomes Acting State President, following the incapacitation of Dr. T.E. Donges. He is sworn in on 1 June 1967.
6 June 1967
The Physical Planning and Utilization of Resources Bill is enacted.
9 June 1967
The Defence Amendment Bill, designed to make military service compulsory for practically all white young men, is passed with the support of the opposition.
14 June 1967
South Africa:Signs treaty with Great Britain on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.
21 June 1967
The General Laws Amendment Bill or 'Terrorism Bill' which makes terrorism a separate offence to be equated with treason is gazette. Under its terms terrorism is defined as including acts committed with intent to endanger the maintenance of law and order and conspiracy or incitement to this end. It is made retrospective to 27 June 1962.
22 June 1967
South Africa:Signs treaty with Norway on a scientific project.
27 June 1967
Terrorism Act No 83:
According to Horrell (1978: 473), this Act signalled the beginning of the struggle against 'Red arms' as opposed to purely 'Red ideology'. It authorised indefinite detention without trial on the authority of a policeman of or above the rank of lieutenant colonel. The definition of terrorism was very broad and included most criminal acts. No time limit was specified for detention; it could be continued until detainees had satisfactorily replied to all questions or no useful purpose would be served by continued detention. Fortnightly visits by magistrates were provided for 'if circumstances permit'. No other visitors were permitted. The Act was operative retrospectively to 27 June 1962 and also applied to South West Africa retrospectively (Horrell 1978: 445). It differed from the ninety-day and 180-day detention laws in that the public was not entitled to information relating to the identity and number of people detained under the Terrorism Act (Dugard 1978: 118).
Commenced: 27 June 1962
All sections except s 7 repealed by s 33 of the Internal Security and Intimidation Amendment Act 138 of 1991.
July 1967
Thirty-seven Africans are charged in Pretoria under the Terrorism Act. The State alleges that the accused have engaged in terrorist activity in South West Africa between June 1962 and May 1967. Defence contends that the Terrorist Act cannot apply to South West Africa, which is mandated territory but this argument is rejected by the court.
The Portuguese Foreign Minister, Dr. A.F. Nogueira visits South Africa for talks with B.J. Vorster concerning regional co-operation. 4 July 1967 Signs multilateral agreement for the accession of the Republic of Korea to the General Agreement on Tarrifs and Trade.
17 July 1967
South Africa:Extends treaty with the United States on the civil uses of atomic energy of 8 July 1957.
21 July 1967
Chief Albert Luthuli is killed in suspicious circumstances while walking along a railway line.
21 July 1967
Albert Luthuli, Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President of the banned ANC, dies.
24 July 1967
Fietas, Johannesburg: Mr. Mahomed Suliman Bhana is released and given a remission of ten days for good behaviour.
26 July 1967
South Africa:Signs treaty with Italy on the amendment of the air agreement of the 21 May 1956.
30 July 1967
Dr. Raymond Hoffenberg of Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town and senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town Medical School, is banned under the Suppression of Communism Act. No explanation is given and the order leads to immediate protests by University staff and students.
30 July - 31 July 1967
The 'Luthuli Combat Detachment', comprising ZAPU and ANC guerillas, crossed the Zambesi into Rhodesia at the start of the Wankie and Sipolilo battles lasting until late 1968.
1 August 1967
South Africa:Signs treaty with Malawi relating to the employment and documentation of Malawi nationals in South Africa.
4 August 1967
The Defence Amendment Act comes into force, under which every young white male will be liable for military service. The amendments are based on making all medically fit citizens, except for those who join the permanent force, the South African police, the railways or prison services, liable for military training. Expenditure on citizen forces and commando training will increase by almost R1m. in 1968 to an estimated figure of about R30m.
11 August 1967
HI. Vorster says in Koffiefontein, Orange Free State, that the restrictions imposed on Dr. Hoffenberg are attributable to his promotion of the aims and objects of communism.
13 August 1967
Umkhonto and ZAPU guerillas engaged Rhodesian forces in Wankie (now Hwange) Game Reserve, near border of Zambia and Botswana.
18 August 1967
ANC and ZAPU announced military alliance.
September 1967
B.J. Vorster became Prime Minister. Launched "outward policy.
1 September 1967
Labour Laws Amendment Act No 4:
Amended South African labour laws for Transkei.
Commenced: 1 September 1967
8 September 1967
It is officially disclosed that South African police are in Rhodesia actively helping in the fight against Nationalist guerrillas. This follows an attempt by several hundred guerrillas to invade South and South West Africa, from Zambia, at the urging of the Liberation Committee of the OAU in Kampala in July 1967.
Prime Minister B.J.. Vorster announces the arrest of a fully trained KGB agent, Yuri N. Loginov, in Johannesburg, while on a special mission to South Africa. His arrest arouses widespread interest among Western intelligence services.
10 September 1967
At the opening of the Malawi Congress Party's (MCP) annual congress at Mzuzu, President Banda announces that formal diplomatic relations will be established between Malawi and South Africa at legation level by 1 January 1968.
Speaking at a special news conference the Rhodesian Prime Minister, Ian Smith, welcomes the participation of the South African Police in Rhodesian anti-terrorist operations.
10 September 1967
South Africa and Malawi announced decision to establish relations.
23 September 1967
Addressing a National Party rally at Volksrust, the Prime Minister, B.J. Vorster says that South Africa's fight against foreign-trained terrorists will continue in any area where South Africa is allowed to fight. He defends South Africa's decision to send police to Rhodesia.
27 September 1967
South Africa:Signs treaty with Lesotho on air services.
October 1967
Helen Joseph, placed under house arrest for five years in 1962, is similarly restricted for a further five years.
6 October 1967
A Bill is introduced into the Lesotho parliament providing for the extradition of fugitives from the Republic of South Africa.
8 October 1967
South Africa:Signs multilateral treaty on the principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space.
17 October 1967
South Africa:Signs multilateral treaty on the conservation of Atlantic tunas (with final act and resolution adopted by the conference of plenipotentlarles).
21 October 1967
Rhodesian Prime Minister, Ian Smith, arrives in Pretoria by military aircraft, accompanied by his Minister of Law and Order, D. Lardner-Burke, for talks with HI. Vorster. Rhodesian constitutional questions and Rhodesia's relationship with Britain are discussed.
25 October 1967
South Africa:Signs amendment to multilateral treaty on the safety of life at sea.
November 1967
The Chairman of the Resources and Planning Council visits Malawi and endorses President Banda's plan to build a new capital in Lilongwe. To this end South Africa agrees to provide finance for the first building phase.
8 November 1967
South Africa:Signs treaty with Austria on the state of the Commonwealth war cemetery at Klagenfurt.
13 November 1967
South Africa:Signs treaty with Belgium on air services.
15 November 1967
South africa:Signs treaty with Great Britain on consular privileges.
17 November 1967
The Malawi Ministry of External Affairs announces that the first Malawi Chargé d'Affaires in South Africa will be P. Richardson. He will take up his post on 11 December 1967 and present his credentials the following day.
21 November 1967
South Africa:Signs treaty with Great Britain on the temporary suspension of the margin of preference on tin plate.
December 1967
Dr. Christiaan Barnard makes medical history by transplanting the first heart to a man dying of terminal heart ailments.
3 December 1967
The Minister of Defence, P.W. Botha, announces a reshuffle of senior defence force posts to increase the efficiency of the country's Defence Department, the Defence Production Board and the Defence Organisation. Consequently Lieutenant-General C.A. Fraser, at present Chief of the Army, becomes Joint Commander, Combat Forces, in which capacity he will take command in times of war or emergency, of the fighting formations of Army and Air Force elements.
11 December 1967
JF. Wenzel presents his credentials to President Banda as South Africa's first Chargé d'Affaires and head of legation in Malawi.
13 December 1967
At the twenty-first session of the United Nations, South Africa's apartheid policies are condemned as 'a crime against humanity'.
14 December 1967
Britain continues its ban on arms supplies to South Africa.
30 December 1967
The Foreign Minister Dr: Muller apologizes to Zambia for the actions of the five members of the South African police detained on the Victoria Falls Bridge by the Zambian authorities on 29 December 1967. They are released on 12 January 1968.
31 December 1967
Prime Minister HI. Vorster warns that the government would re-assess the Simonstown agreement during 1968. This reaction follows the British government's decision to maintain the South African arms embargo.