1991 in South Africa

Incumbents

• State President: F.W. de Klerk.
• Chief Justice: Michael Corbett.

  Events

• 9 - Black children are admitted to schools previously reserved for whites only.
• 9 - In Sebokeng gunmen fire on mourners attending the funeral of a leader of the African National Congress, killing 13.
• 12 - 45 mourners are killed during an attack on a funeral vigil for an African National Congress member.
• 13 - 45 football fans die in the Orkney Stadium Disaster in the Oppenheimer Stadium in Orkney.
• 29 - State President F.W. de Klerk, deputy-president of the African National Congress Nelson Mandela and Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi meet for peace talks.

• 1 - At the signing of a national peace accord State President F.W. de Klerk promises to end all apartheid legislation and to create a new multi-racial constitution.
• 25 - Chief Mhlabunzima Maphumulo is shot dead by an alleged hit-squad outside his home in Pietermaritzburg.

• 11 March - A curfew is imposed on black townships after fighting between rival political gangs kills 49.
• 12 - The government tables a white paper to end racial discrimination in land ownership and occupation.
• 24 - Twelve people, including a police officer and two children, are killed when police opens fire on a crowd of African National Congress supporters attacking the police in Daveyton.

• 15 - The European Economic Community lifts economic sanctions on South Africa.
• 30 - A coup d'état is executed in Lesotho.

• 14 - Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, dubbed the "Mugger of the Nation", is found guilty and sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for her involvement in the death of 14-year-old Stompie Moeketsi. The sentence will never be carried out.

• 28 - The Population Registration Act in terms of which South Africans were classified into racial groups is repealed.
• 30 - The laws enforcing geographical segregation, including the Group Areas Act, the Native Land Act, the Native Trust and Land Act and the Asiatic Land Tenure Act, are repealed.

• 2–6 - The 48th National Conference of the African National Congress takes place in Durban, the first to be held in South Africa since 1959.
• 9 - The suspension of South Africa from the International Olympic Committee is lifted.
• 10 - President Bush announces the United States is ending its 1986-enacted sanctions on South Africa.

• 4 - The Greek-owned cruise ship Oceanos sinks off Coffee Bay and all 571 passengers on board are safely evacuated by SAAF helicopters.
• 9 - Right-wingers of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging clash with the police in the Battle of Ventersdorp.

• 4 - State President F.W. de Klerk announces a new constitution that will provide suffrage for black people.

• 2 - Minister of Foreign Affairs Pik Botha visits Beijing to strengthen South Africa's relations with China.
• 3 - Nadine Gordimer is awarded the 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature.

• 4–5 - The African National Congress leads a general strike to demand a role in governing and an end to value-added tax.

• 8 - Chris Hani becomes leader of the South African Communist Party.

• The Phinda Resource Reserve is formed.
• The great white shark is given full protection under South African law.

  Births

• 1 January - Jacob Maliekal, badminton player
• 7 January - Bongi Mbonambi, rugby player
• 9 February - Lyle Peters, footballer
• 16 February - Marilyn Ramos, Miss South Africa 2012
• 5 March - Kate Christowitz, rower
• 11 March - Kamohelo Mokotjo, football player
• 14 March - Frans Malherbe, rugby player
• 2 April - Siobhan McColl, figure skater
• 28 April - Liesl Laurie, model
• 6 May - Ockie van Zyl, rugby player
• 14 June - Kyle Jacobs, footballer
• 16 June - Siya Kolisi, South Africa national rugby union team captain
• 30 June - Kevin Paul, Paralympic swimmer
• 8 July - Thuso Mbedu, actress
• 30 July - Heinrich Klaasen, cricketer
• 17 August - Zakir Kathrada, cricketer
• 28 September - Michael van Vuuren, rugby player
• 19 October - Faf de Klerk, rugby player
• 29 October - Eben Etzebeth, rugby player
• 25 November - Thandeka Zulu, actress & singer
• 25 November - Damian de Allende, rugby player
• 7 December - JP Jonck, rugby player
• 10 December - Gugu Gumede, actress

  Deaths

• 24 February - John Charles Daly, South African-born journalist and game show host.
• 11 June - Cromwell Everson, composer.

  Railways

Locomotives

• Spoornet places three prototype Class 14E dual voltage electric mainline locomotives in stock service, following intensive testing. They are the first dual voltage 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC locomotives to see service in South Africa.

  Sports

Athletics