See also: 1979 in South Africa, other events of 1980, 1981 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history.
Events
January
- 14 January - Local community at Soekmekaar resist forced removal and damage police station
- 25 January - Three Umkhonto we Sizwe operatives Stephen Mafoko, Humphrey Makhubo and Wilfred Madela held the staff and customers in a Silverton bank in Pretoria hostage. This was followed by a shoot-out with the police in which two civilians and the three operatives were killed
March
- Two terrorists are killed by police in Bophutatswana, while another escapes.
- 12 March - The Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) together with its sister church for Blacks (the NGK in Afrika), Coloureds (the NG Sendingkerk) and Indians (the Reformed Church in Africa) issue a statement stating that the Churches bring no objection in principle if the authorities judge that circumstances justify reconsideration of the Immorality Act and the Mixed Marriages Act.
- Nine people are sentenced in Pretoria to five to seven years imprisonment for training as guerrillas outside South Africa and recruiting others to undergo training
April
May
June
August
- Special Branch policeman Det-Sgt TG Zondi is shot at in Sobantu Village
October
- 14 October - Soweto community calls for a stayaway to protest against rent increases
- 15 October - Bomb explodes and damages railway line in Dube, Soweto and Piet Koornhof, minister of co-operation and development, visits the scene
- 29 October - Umkhonto we Sizwe cadres throw two grenades into the government buildings of the West Rand Administration Board and injure a security guard and friend
- 30 October - A bomb explodes at the Transkei consuls residence in Port Elizabeth; no injuries
November
- 21 November - A terrorist is killed in Chiawelo and a child is injured by police
Sport
Athletics
Motorsport
Births
Deaths