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The following lists events that happened during 1960 in South Africa.
Incumbents
- Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II
- Governor-General: Charles Robberts Swart (from 12 January).
- Prime Minister: Hendrik Verwoerd.
- Chief Justice: Lucas Cornelius Steyn.
Events
;January
- 21 – 435 miners die in the Coalbrook mining disaster, the worst mine disaster in South Africa.
;February
- 3 – Harold Macmillan delivers his Wind of Change speech to the Parliament of South Africa in Cape Town.
;March
- 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.
;April
- 8 – The government bans the African National Congress and the Pan Africanist Congress with the coming into effect of the Unlawful Organisations Act.
;October
- 5 – The white population votes in a referendum to sever South Africa's last links with the British monarchy and become a republic.
;November
- 14 – Serial Killer "Pangaman" Elias Xitavhudzi is hanged 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, musician
- 24 August – Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, politician
- 25 August – David Mabuza, Deputy President of South Africa (d. 2025)
- 13 September – Kevin Carter, photojournalist (d. 1994)
- 18 October – Mark Mathabane, author, lecturer and college professor
Deaths
- 13 June – Ken McArthur, athlete. (b. 1881)