See also: 1959 in South Africa, other events of 1960, 1961 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history.

Events

March

• 21 March - Sharpeville Massacre, Police shoot and kill 69 people who were part of a demonstration against pass laws
• 22 March - Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd tells Parliament that the Anti-Pass Resistance in Sharpeville was not targeted against the government
• 23 March - Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, leader of the Pan Africanist Congress, who led the Sharpeville demonstration and 12 others are arrested for incitement of riots
• 24 March - All public meetings more than 12 people are banned
• 30 March - The government declared a State of Emergency
• The government bans the African National Congress and the Pan Africanist Congress

April

• 19 April - The South-West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) is founded in Windhoek, South West Africa, to oppose South African rule

October

• 5 October - whites vote in a referendum, to sever South Africa's last links with the British monarchy and become a republic

Unknown date

• Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolum, an Indian golfer, wins the Dutch Open tournament for the second time

Births

• 16 July - PJ Powers, musicain, born in Durban

Deaths