Key Events
Topic
Date Event
1948
May 26 National Party beat the United Party in General Election
August 2 ANCYL create the Basic Policy
1949
July 8 Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act is passed
Immorality Act is passed
December 17 Programme of Action is drawn up calling for direct action
1950
June 22 Population Registration Act is passed
June 26 Suppression of Communism Act is passed
July 7 Group Areas Act is passed
October 19 Verwoerd became Minister of Native A airs
1951
June 18 Separate Representation of voters Act is passed
June 21 Bantu Authorities Act is passed
Eiselen Report is published
1952
June 24 Native Laws Amendment Act is passed
December Defiance Campaign begins
December 5 United General Assembly condemn Apartheid for the first time (becomes annual till end)
1953
January Defiance Campaign ends
February 24 Public Safety Act is passed
Criminal Law Amendment Act is passed
October 5 Bantu Education Act is passed
1954
April FSAW is founded
June 4 Native Resettlement Act is passed
October Tomlinson Report published
1955
February 10 Residents of Sophiatown began being evicted
July 1 Censorship (Customs and Excise) Act is passed
June 25 Congress of the People takes place in Kliptown
1956
March 8 Riotous Assemblies Act
August 9 20,000 women marched on Pretoria in protest of the Pass Laws
December 5 156 arrested due to attendance at the People’s Congress
1957
March Zeerust Uprising begins
South African Defence Force was founded
1958
September 2 Verwoerd becomes Prime Minister
1959
April 6 PAC was formally founded
June Potato Boycott begins
June 19 Bantu Self-government Act is passed
November East Pondoland revolt begins
1960
February 3 Macmillan’s ‘Wind of Change’ speech
March 21 Sharpeville Massacre
March 30 State of Emergency comes into e ect
April 1 UN pass Resolution 134 damming the South African government
April 8 Unlawful Organisations Act is passed banning ANC and PAC
April 9 Verwoerd is subject to assassination attempt
Summer Wessel inquiry begins
Maoris refused entry to a South African rugby tour ending in largest protest in New Zealand history
Topic
Date Event
1948
May 26 National Party beat the United Party in General Election
August 2 ANCYL create the Basic Policy
1949
July 8 Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act is passed
Immorality Act is passed
December 17 Programme of Action is drawn up calling for direct action
1950
June 22 Population Registration Act is passed
June 26 Suppression of Communism Act is passed
July 7 Group Areas Act is passed
October 19 Verwoerd became Minister of Native A airs
1951
June 18 Separate Representation of voters Act is passed
June 21 Bantu Authorities Act is passed
Eiselen Report is published
1952
June 24 Native Laws Amendment Act is passed
December Defiance Campaign begins
December 5 United General Assembly condemn Apartheid for the first time (becomes annual till end)
1953
January Defiance Campaign ends
February 24 Public Safety Act is passed
Criminal Law Amendment Act is passed
October 5 Bantu Education Act is passed
1954
April FSAW is founded
June 4 Native Resettlement Act is passed
October Tomlinson Report published
1955
February 10 Residents of Sophiatown began being evicted
July 1 Censorship (Customs and Excise) Act is passed
June 25 Congress of the People takes place in Kliptown
1956
March 8 Riotous Assemblies Act
August 9 20,000 women marched on Pretoria in protest of the Pass Laws
December 5 156 arrested due to attendance at the People’s Congress
1957
March Zeerust Uprising begins
South African Defence Force was founded
1958
September 2 Verwoerd becomes Prime Minister
1959
April 6 PAC was formally founded
June Potato Boycott begins
June 19 Bantu Self-government Act is passed
November East Pondoland revolt begins
1960
February 3 Macmillan’s ‘Wind of Change’ speech
March 21 Sharpeville Massacre
March 30 State of Emergency comes into e ect
April 1 UN pass Resolution 134 damming the South African government
April 8 Unlawful Organisations Act is passed banning ANC and PAC
April 9 Verwoerd is subject to assassination attempt
Summer Wessel inquiry begins
Maoris refused entry to a South African rugby tour ending in largest protest in New Zealand history
