1990 in South Africa saw the official start of the process of ending Apartheid. President of South Africa, eid. President F.W. de Klerk unbanned organisations that were banned by the government including the African National Congress, the South African Communist Party and the Pan Africanist Congress. The African National Congress, Umkhonto we Sizwe, suspends its armed activity within South Africa. Political prisoners including Nelson Mandela were released. Nelson Mandela met ANC leader Oliver Tambo for the first time in 28 years at a meeting in Sweden. Mandela also traveled to England to thank the people for their support in the campaign to free him. South Africa withdrew its troops from Namibia, which was granted independence. 1990 also saw marches in support and against the formation of a new post-Apartheid South Africa.
16 – PaedophileGert van Rooyen shoots his accomplice and lover Joey Haarhoff and then commits suicide soon after a police chase.
20 – Thomas Mandlenkosi (Mshengu) Shabalala, an Inkatha Freedom Party National Council member, is shot dead outside his house in Lindelani's C Section, also known as eMadamini, near KwaMashu, Durban.
3 – Rainbow People's March, a small group of demonstrators, express support for the new South Africa by dancing down Adderley Street with a painting by artist Beezy Bailey.
11 – Nelson Mandela is released from prison after serving 27 years.
6 – P.W. Botha resigns from the National Party in protest against State President F.W de Klerk's reform proposals.
June
4 – Nelson Mandela starts a thirteen-nation international tour.
5 – Colonel Gabriel Ramushwana, Chairman of the Venda Council for National Unity, announces the lifting of the state of emergency and the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Venda.
7 – State President F.W. de Klerk lifts the state of emergency in South Africa that has been in place for ten years.
13 – Sipho Phungulwa, one of a group of exiles who were held in African National Congress detention camps in Angola, is shot dead in Umtata while trying to seek an audience with the Transkei ANC leadership to expose the hardships they had endured in Angola. Ndibulele Ndzamela, Mfanelo Matshaya and Pumlani Kubukeli will be granted amnesty on 13 August 1998 in connection with this incident.
July
14 – The Inkatha Freedom Party is formed when it is transformed from the Inkatha National Cultural Liberation Movement.
12 – Fighting breaks out between the Xhosa people and the Zulu people and more than 500 are killed by the end of August.
September
11 – Seven political prisoners are released.
13 – Six men boarding train No. 9436 at Johannesburg's Jeppe station, between Johannesburg and Soweto, massacred, hacked and threw passengers in a macabre attack, killing 26 and injuring 100 people.[2] Two armed gangs, in the attack, displayed style of RENAMO, who were suspected to avenge insults to Mangosuthu Buthelezi.[3]
23–25 – State President F.W. de Klerk visits Washington on a state visit.
19 – The National Party opens its membership to all races.
November
4 – South Africa announces that Harry Schwarz, a prominent anti-apartheid campaigner in Parliament, will be its next ambassador to the United States, the first serving politician from opposition ranks to be appointed to a senior ambassadorial post in South African history.
^ abMiddleton, John N. (2002). Railways of Southern Africa Locomotive Guide - 2002 (as amended by Combined Amendment List 4, January 2009) (2nd, Dec 2002 ed.). Herts, England: Beyer-Garratt Publications. pp. 49–52, 54–57, 59–60.
