1960 in South Africa

Incumbents

• Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II
• Governor-General: Charles Robberts Swart.
• Prime Minister: Hendrik Verwoerd.
• Chief Justice: Lucas Cornelius Steyn.

  Events

• 21 - 435 miners die in the Coalbrook mining disaster, the worst mine disaster in South Africa.

• 3 - Harold Macmillan delivers his Wind of Change speech to the Parliament of South Africa in Cape Town.

• 21 - Police kill an estimated 69 people during the Sharpeville massacre.
• 22 - Hendrik Verwoerd tells Parliament that the Anti-Pass Resistance in Sharpeville, Gauteng was not targeted against the government.
• 23 - Robert Sobukwe, leader of the Pan Africanist Congress, Albert Lutuli and 11 others are arrested for incitement of riots.
• 24 - All public meetings of more than 12 people are banned.
• 30 - The government declares a State of Emergency.

• 8 - The government bans the African National Congress and the Pan Africanist Congress with the coming into effect of the Unlawful Organisations Act.
• 9 - David Pratt shoots and wounds Hendrik Verwoerd, the Prime Minister of South Africa, while he opens the Rand Easter Show at Milner Park, Johannesburg.
• 19 - The South West Africa People's Organisation is founded in Windhoek, South West Africa.

• 4 - Robert Sobukwe, President of the Pan Africanist Congress, is sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for incitement of black Africans to urge the repeal of pass laws.
• 6 - Umhlobo Wenene FM is founded.

• 15 - The first Boeing 707 arrives in South Africa.

• 5 - The white population votes in a referendum to sever South Africa's last links with the British monarchy and become a republic.

• 14 - Serial Killer "Pangaman" Elias Xitavhudzi is hung for the murders of 16 white men and women in Atteridgeville in the 1950s.

  Births

• 12 March - Sello Maake Ka-Ncube, actor.
• 14 April - Pat Symcox, cricketer
• 8 June - Frank Opperman, actor
• 24 June - Carel du Plessis, rugby player
• 16 July - PJ Powers aka Thandeka, musician.
• 24 August - Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, politician.
• 25 August - David Mabuza, Deputy President of South Africa
• 13 September - Kevin Carter, photojournalist.
• 18 October - Mark Mathabane, author, lecturer and college professor.

  Deaths

• 13 June - Ken McArthur, athlete.

  Railways

Sports