1991 in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1991 in South Africa.

Incumbents

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

Events

;January

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.

;February

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.

;March

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.

;April

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

;May

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.

;June

28 – The Population Registration Act in terms of which South Africans were classified into racial groups is repealed.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including the Group Areas Act, the Native Land Act, the Native Trust and Land Act and the Asiatic Land Tenure Act, are repealed.

;July

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.

;August

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.

;September

4 – State President F.W. de Klerk announces a new constitution that will provide suffrage for black people.
7 – Australian children's series Johnson and Friends debuts on SABC 2.

;October

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.

;November

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

;December

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

;Unknown date

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
Caster Semenya, middle-distance runner, Olympic champion
9 February – Lyle Peters, footballer
14 February – Alberto Mazzoncini, cricketer
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
28 April – Liesl Laurie, model
14 June – Kyle Jacobs, footballer
16 June – Siya Kolisi, South Africa national rugby union team captain
30 June – Kevin Paul, Paralympic swimmer
3 July – Josiah De Disciple, DJ & record producer
8 July – Thuso Mbedu, actress
30 July – Heinrich Klaasen, cricketer
17 August – Zakir Kathrada, cricketer
26 August – Chris Pappas, politician, mayor of uMngeni Local Municipality
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. (b. 1914)
11 June – Cromwell Everson, composer. (b. 1925)

Railways

thumb|[[South African Class 14E|Class 14E]]

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

12 to 17 September - 1991 ATP Tour World Championships