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 2020
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Events in the year 2020 in South Africa.

Incumbents

Cabinet

The Cabinet, together with the President and the Deputy President, forms the Executive.

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

Provincial Premiers

Events

January to March

  • 3 February – A court issues an arrest warrant for former president Jacob Zuma on corruption charges. Zuma, 77, is presumed to be in Cuba for medical treatment, but it is unclear when or if he will return to South Africa since the two countries have not signed an extradition treaty. The case will resume on 6 May.[1]
  • 5 February – German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives in South Africa to discuss trade, investment, and energy issues.[2]
  • 11 February – Former U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden says he and then U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young were arrested in Soweto when they tried to visit Nelson Mandela on Robben Island in 1977.[3] Young says he was not arrested in South Africa and doubts Biden was.[4]
  • 19 February – Speaking from Addis Ababa, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserts that land distribution without compensation would be disastrous for South Africa and its people.[5]
  • 21 February – Sixteen children in Zola, Soweto, are hospitalized for eating expired sweets. 39 pupils were hospitalized earlier in the week.[6]
  • 5 March - The COVID-19 pandemic spread to South Africa, with the first confirmed case announced on 5 March 2020 by Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize.[7]
  • 15 March – President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation and announced that there shouldn't be any gathering which is more than 100 people until further notice to avoid the spreading of COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 21 March – Human Rights Day in South Africa
  • 23 March – President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation and announced a 21-day national lockdown effective from midnight 26 March through to 16 April,[8] with the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and South African Police Service (SAPS) to support the government.[8]
  • 27 March – The first person was confirmed to die of COVID-19 case, announced on 27 March 2020 by Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize.

April to June

  • 9 April – the President announced a two-week lockdown extension, until the end of April.[9]
  • 18 April – President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that lockdown restrictions will be gradually eased. Mines can resume work at 50% capacity and the economy is expected to contract by 6.1% this year.[10]
  • 19 April – South African Airways plans to fire all 4,700 employees at the end of April after failing to get any more government subsidies.[11]
  • 23 April – President Ramaphosa's efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic receive praise. South Africa has confirmed 3,953 cases and 75 deaths so far. The government has earmarked 500 billion rand ($26.16 billion), or 10% of national output, to fight the virus, keep businesses afloat and prevent the poor—who make up half the population—from going hungry.[12] South Africa has tested 140,000 people, with nearly 4,000 positive cases and 75 deaths.[13]
  • 26 April
    • Cuba sends 200 doctors to South Africa.[14]
    • Police Minister Bheki Cele apologised for a "blasphemous" remark made to praying Muslims by a policeman enforcing coronavirus rules. Twenty-four people were arrested in the incident.[15]
  • 27 April – Freedom Day
  • 1 May
    • International Workers' Day
    • South Africa now enters Level 4 of the national lockdown to ensure the economy can gradually reopen with some easing of other restrictions.[16]
  • 12 June – Femicide is described as a second pandemic as more than 20 women and children are murdered in a matter of weeks.[17]
  • 25 May – Africa Day
  • 16 June – Youth Day

July to September

  • 1 July – COVID-19 pandemic: 159,333 confirmed cases and 2,749 deaths. The worst affected area is Western Cape.[18]
  • 6 July – COVID-19 pandemic: Thousands of students from grades 7 to 12 return to classes after schools were closed for four months due to the coronavirus.[19]
  • 11 July – COVID-19 pandemic: Confirmed cases doubled in two weeks to 250,000 with 3,800 deaths. Public hospitals are short on medical oxygen.[20]
  • 12 July – Four people are killed, six injured, and forty arrested in a hostage situation at the International Pentecostal Holiness Church headquarters in Zuurbekom near Johannesburg.[21]
  • 13 July – COVID-19 pandemic: A 9pm to 6pm curfew and a ban on sales of alcohol are reinstituted. Family and social visits remain banned.[22]
  • 22 July - South Africa's oldest pub, The Perseverance Tavern, closes due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
  • 23 July – More than 17,000 excess deaths from 6 May to 14 July were reported, as compared to data from the past two years, while confirmed COVID-19 deaths have surpassed 6,000. The South African Medical Research Council said the excess deaths could be related to COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, or tuberculosis, although many doctors suspect coronavirus. South Africa now has the world's fifth largest caseload with 408,052 confirmed cases.[23]
  • 25 August – A fire burns the 139-year-old Grey Street mosque in the Durban, South African.[24]
  • 7 September – Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters force the closing of 60 "Clicks" retail health care stores after the chain displays possible racist ads of hair care products.[25]
  • 8 September – The ANC strongly condemns Donald Trump's negative remarks about Nelson Mandela in Disloyal: A Memoir by Michael Cohen. "The mark of a true leader is not how many enemies you create but how many friendships you cultivate, even where strong differences of opinion exist," said the ANC.[26] The Nelson Mandela Foundation also condemns Trump's remarks.[26]
  • 24 September – Heritage Day (South Africa)

October to December

  • 6 October - Stun grenades are fired by police to disperse protesting white farmers after they storm the courthouse in Senekal, Free State. The protesters were demanding that two men detained over a young farm manager's murder be handed over to them. Brendin Horner's body was found tied to a pole on the farm he managed, after he was allegedly killed by stock thieves.[27]
  • 15 November – Preacher Shepherd Bushiri and his wife flee to Malawi to avoid a fraud trial started in South Africa.[28]
  • 16 November – Former president Jacob Zuma testifies before a state commission investigating allegations of corruption from 2009 to 2018.[29]
  • 15 December – Ace Magashule is asked to step down from the African National Congress after being charged with 21 counts of corruption.[30]
  • 18 December – COVID-19 pandemic: Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize said scientists had discovered a new variant of virus, called 501.V2 Variant. Nearly 900,000 South Africans had been infected and 20,000 had died.[31]
  • 27 December – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases passes one million.[32]

Scheduled events

Sports

Television

Deaths

Denis Goldberg
Zindzi Mandela
George Bizos

January to March

April to June

July to September

October to December

See also

Wikinews has related news:

Country overviews

References

  1. ↑ Anna, Cara; Magome, Mogomotsi (4 February 2020). "South African court issues arrest warrant for ex-leader Zuma". Associated Press.
  2. ↑ Magome, Mogomotsi (5 February 2020). "Germany's Merkel arriving in South Africa to talk trade". Associated Press.
  3. ↑ Joe Biden Says He Was Arrested In South Africa Decades Ago Archived 22 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine By Sarah Ruiz-Grossman, Huff Post Politics, 21 February 2020
  4. ↑ US politician Joe Biden recalls being arrested in SA for trying to see Nelson Mandela Archived 22 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine Cheryl Kahla, The South African, 22 February 2020
  5. ↑ Meseret, Elias (19 February 2020). "Pompeo says South Africa land seizures would be 'disastrous'". Associated Press.
  6. ↑ More Soweto learners hospitalized after eating dodgy sweets Archived 22 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine James Richardson, The South African, 22 February 2020
  7. ↑ Coronavirus: Here's how to track the spread of the disease Archived 3 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine Cheryl Kahla, The South African, 5 March 2020
  8. 1 2 "Ramaphosa announces 21 day coronavirus lockdown for South Africa". businesstech.co.za. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  9. ↑ "South African lockdown extended – 2 more weeks". MyBroadband. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  10. ↑ Vollgraaff, Rene (18 April 2020). "South Africa to Gradually Ease Regulations After Lockdown". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  11. ↑ Bowker, John; Prinsloo, Loni (18 April 2020). "South African Airways Nears Collapse With Plan to Fire All Staff". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  12. ↑ "South Africa's COVID-19 crisis strengthens Ramaphosa's economic reform hand". Reuters. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  13. ↑ Imray, Gerald (23 April 2020). "Africa's 43% jump in virus cases in 1 week worries experts". Associated Press. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  14. ↑ "Coronavirus: Cuban doctors go to South Africa". BBC News. 26 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  15. ↑ "SAfrica minister apologises for police officer's anti-Muslim rant". Al-Ahram. Agence France-Presse. 26 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  16. ↑ These fast food outlets will be delivering during Level 4 lockdown Archived 6 May 2020 at the Wayback Machine Cheryl Kahla, The South African, 30 April 2020
  17. ↑ Bukola Adebayo (19 June 2020). "South Africa has the continent's highest Covid-19 cases. Now it has another pandemic on its hands". CNN. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  18. ↑ "Coronavirus in South Africa: Deciding who lives and dies in a Cape Town township". BBC News. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  19. ↑ Mutsaka, Farai; Magome, Mogomotsi. "Zimbabwe nurses protest; South Africa reopens some classes". Associated Press. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  20. ↑ "Coronavirus Cases Spike in South Africa and India, Exposing Inequalities in Virus Treatment". Time. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  21. ↑ Gearty, Robert (11 July 2020). "5 dead in hostage situation at South Africa church; 40 arrested". Fox News. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  22. ↑ "South Africa reimposes alcohol ban, curfew as coronavirus cases spike". Reuters. 12 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  23. ↑ "South Africa's excess deaths surge as virus like 'wildfire'". AP NEWS. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  24. ↑ "South Africa: Massive fire engulfs historic Durban mosque". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  25. ↑ Magome, Mogomotsi (7 September 2020). "South African protesters close stores over offensive ad". Associated Press.
  26. 1 2 Meldrum, Andrew (8 September 2020). "South African party rejects alleged Trump comment on Mandela". Associated Press. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  27. ↑ "South Africa white farmers condemned for storming Senekal courthouse". BBC News. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  28. ↑ "Shepherd Bushiri: Preacher flees South Africa ahead of fraud trial". BBC News. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  29. ↑ Magome, Mogomotsi (16 November 2020). "Former South Africa president testifies before commission". Associated Press. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  30. ↑ Magome, Mogomotsi (15 December 2020). "Top official of South Africa's ruling ANC urged to step down". Associated Press. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  31. ↑ "South Africa identifies new coronavirus strain causing surge in cases". Reuters. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  32. ↑ Meldrum, Andrew (27 December 2020). "South Africa on verge of new virus rules as it hits 1M cases". Associated Press. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  33. ↑ "Experimental three-team format to kick off South Africa's return to cricket | ESPNcricinfo.com". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  34. ↑ "Live blog - Cricket returns to South Africa with 3TeamCricket | ESPNcricinfo.com". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  35. ↑ "South African Business Mogul Richard Maponya Dies At 99". iharare.com. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  36. ↑ "SA's first black world boxing champion Peter Mathebula has died". dispatchlive.co.za. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  37. ↑ "Former U'hage mayor Bicks Ndoni dies". news24.com. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  38. ↑ Greenberger, Alex (27 January 2020). "Santu Mofokeng, Photographer Who Elegantly Immortalized Lives of Black South Africans, Is Dead at 64".
  39. ↑ "Umkhonto we Sizwe's first explosives whizz Harold Strachan dies". Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  40. ↑ Joseph Shabalala, Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder dies at 78 Archived 11 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine CNN World, 11 February 2020
  41. ↑ Obituaries, Telegraph (21 February 2020). "Zoe Gail, singer who switched on the lights in Piccadilly after the wartime blackout – obituary". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.(subscription required)
  42. ↑ "Maritzburg-born playwright and actor dies suddenly". 28 February 2020. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  43. ↑ "Obituary: Mohammed Tikly". Mail & Guardian. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  44. ↑ Tikly, Leon (11 June 2020). "Mohammed Tikly obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  45. ↑ "Sol Kerzner dies after struggle with cancer". Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  46. ↑ "Credo Mutwa passes on at 98 years old". 25 March 2020. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  47. ↑ "JUST IN: Renowned SA scientist Gita Ramjee dies of complications due to Covid-19". Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  48. ↑ "General Constand Viljoen, former SADF commander and political leader, dies at 86". Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  49. ↑ "Last surviving member of notorious Stander Gang dies". 18 April 2020. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  50. ↑ "ANC Stalwart Denis Goldberg Passes Away at 87". 30 April 2020. Archived from the original on 30 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  51. ↑ "Football legend 'Sugar Ray' Xulu dies aged 81". Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  52. ↑ "Ewie Cronje dies aged 80". Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  53. ↑ "Tributes pour in for Council of Medical Schemes chair Dr Clarence Mini who died of Covid-19". Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  54. ↑ "Stellenbosch University mourns death of professor after surgery". Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  55. ↑ "Jeanne Goosen sterf op 81". Maroela Media. 3 June 2020. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020.
  56. ↑ "SA dancer and choreographer Kirvan Fortuin stabbed to death allegedly by 14-year-old girl". Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  57. ↑ "Iconic SA author Elsa Joubert, 97, dies of Covid-19". Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  58. ↑ "Professor Nigel Weiss (1936-2020) - Clare College News". cweb1.clare.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  59. ↑ "Walkabout: No fanfare for David Lewis, an uncommon man". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  60. ↑ "Tributes pour in as veteran actress Mary Twala, Somizi's mother dies". The Citizen. 4 July 2020.
  61. ↑ "North West Cogta MEC Gordon Kegakilwe dies after testing positive for Covid-19". Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  62. ↑ "Bishop Zithulele Patrick Mvemve". Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  63. ↑ "Western Cape municipal mayor dies from Covid-19". Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  64. ↑ "ANC KZN spokesperson Ricardo Mthembu dies of Covid-19". IOL. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  65. ↑ Dayimani, Malibongwe; Ngqakamba, Ngqakamba. "AmaRharhabe Kingdom Queen Noloyiso Sandile dies of Covid-19". News24. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  66. ↑ "Passionate football journo Louis Mazibuko rests his pen forever". Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  67. ↑ "Local artists pay tribute to Patricia Majalisa". 9 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  68. ↑ "Former Springbok wing dies of Covid-19 complications". Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  69. ↑ "'A life dedicated to freedom' - ANC pays tribute to late stalwart Tom Manthata". Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  70. ↑ "Buffalo City Council Speaker Alfred Mitsi dies of COVID-19 complications". Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  71. ↑ Magome, Mogomotsi (13 July 2020). "Zindzi Mandela, daughter of Nelson and Winnie, dies at 59". Associated Press. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  72. ↑ "Renowned SA actress Elize Cawood dies". Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  73. ↑ "Apartheid-era South African spinner Ismail 'Baboo' Ebrahim dies at 73". Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  74. ↑ "ANC MP Martha Mmola dies due to Covid-19 related illness". Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  75. ↑ Magome, Mogomotsi (22 July 2020). "South African anti-apartheid icon Andrew Mlangeni dies at 95". Associated Press. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  76. ↑ "Anti-apartheid stalwart Andrew Mlangeni has died". Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  77. ↑ "Actress Candy Moloi has died". 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  78. ↑ "Diana Russell". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  79. ↑ "ANC MP Zamuxolo Peter died after testing positive for Covid-19". Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  80. ↑ Ellis, Estelle. "A giant tree has fallen: Prof Lungile Pepeta (1974 – 2020)". Maverick Citizen. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  81. ↑ "Broadcasting legend Bob Mabena dies at 51". www.enca.com.
  82. ↑ "Northern Cape education MEC Mac Jack dies". Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  83. ↑ "Sad passing of Stuart Hailstone". 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020.
  84. ↑ "Renowned photographer Jürgen Schadeberg dead at 89". Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  85. ↑ "Former Springbok center Peter Cronje passes away aged 70". 4 September 2020. Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  86. ↑ "Cycling South Africa mourns passing of young cyclist Greg de Vink". Archived from the original on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  87. ↑ "Thandeka Mdeliswa". Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  88. ↑ "Achmat Dangor, author and political activist, dies". Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  89. ↑ "David Clatworthy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  90. ↑ "Human rights advocate George Bizos has died". 9 September 2020. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  91. ↑ Whitbourn, Michaela; McClymont, Kate (9 October 2020). "Former ICAC Commissioner David Ipp dies aged 82". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  92. ↑ "Renowned Indian-origin South African human rights lawyer Priscilla Jana passes away". Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  93. ↑ "Land reform champion Dr Mahlati dies". Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  94. ↑ McFadden, Robert D. (14 October 2020). "Herbert Kretzmer, Who Wrote Lyrics for 'Les Misérables,' Dies at 95". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  95. ↑ "Award-winning director-actor Gerrit Schoonhoven, 62, dies". Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  96. ↑ "Man of letters Stephen Gray dies at 78". 23 October 2020. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  97. ↑ "First Vice-Chancellor of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University passes away". Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  98. ↑ "KZN deputy speaker Mluleki Ndobe found dead after cancer diagnosis". Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  99. ↑ "Former Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Mongameli Bobani dies". Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  100. ↑ "Outgoing Auditor General Kimi Makwetu Passes Away". Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  101. ↑ Burger, Anena (16 November 2020). "Prof. Anne Rasa (80) oorlede". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). (subscription required)
  102. ↑ "Afrikaans poet and writer of short stories and prose, Christine..." SABC News Western Cape. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  103. ↑ "Kwaito musician Mshoza dies at 37". Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  104. ↑ "Anele Ngcongca (33) dies". Enca. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  105. ↑ "DA's Belinda Bozzoli dies after battle with cancer". Archived from the original on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  106. ↑ "Seasoned ANC MP Pumza Dyantyi's death mourned". Archived from the original on 17 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  107. ↑ "Tennis legend and author Gordon Forbes passes away aged 86". Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  108. ↑ "Motjeka Madisha passes away hours after Sundowns celebrate anniversary". 13 December 2020. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  109. ↑ "ANC MP Loyiso Khanyisa Mpumlwana has died". Archived from the original on 26 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
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