2020 in South Africa

2020
in
South Africa

  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
Decades:
  • 2000s
  • 2010s
  • 2020s
See also:

Events in the year 2020 in South Africa.

Incumbents

Cabinet

The Cabinet, together with the President and the Deputy President, forms the Executive.

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

Provincial Premiers

Events

January to March

  • 3 February – A court issues an arrest warrant for former president Jacob Zuma on corruption charges. Zuma, 77, is presumed to be in Cuba for medical treatment, but it is unclear when or if he will return to South Africa since the two countries have not signed an extradition treaty. The case will resume on May 6.[1]
  • 5 February – German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives in South Africa to discuss trade, investment, and energy issues.[2]
  • 11 February – Former U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden says he and then U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young were arrested in Soweto when they tried to visit Nelson Mandela on Robben Island in 1977.[3] Young says he was not arrested in South Africa and doubts Biden was.[4]
  • 19 February – Speaking from Addis Ababa, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserts that land distribution without compensation would be disastrous for South Africa and its people.[5]
  • 21 February – Sixteen children in Zola, Soweto, are hospitalized for eating expired sweets. 39 pupils were hospitalized earlier in the week.[6]
  • 5 March - The COVID-19 pandemic spread to South Africa, with the first confirmed case announced on 5 March 2020 by Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize.[7]
  • 21 March – Human Rights Day in South Africa

April to June

  • 18 April – President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that lockdown restrictions will be gradually eased. Mines can resume work at 50% capacity and the economy is expected to contract by 6.1% this year.[8]
  • 19 April – South African Airways plans to fire all 4,700 employees at the end of April after failing to get any more government subsidies.[9]
  • 23 April – President Ramaphosa's efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic receive praise. South Africa has confirmed 3,953 cases and 75 deaths so far. The government has earmarked 500 billion rand ($26.16 billion), or 10% of national output, to fight the virus, keep businesses afloat and prevent the poor—who make up half the population—from going hungry.[10] South Africa has tested 140,000 people, with nearly 4,000 positive cases and 75 deaths.[11]
  • 26 April
    • Cuba sends 200 doctors to South Africa.[12]
    • Police Minister Bheki Cele apologised for a "blasphemous" remark made to praying Muslims by a policeman enforcing coronavirus rules. Twenty-four people were arrested in the incident.[13]
  • 27 April – Freedom Day
  • 1 May
    • International Workers' Day
    • South Africa now enters Level 4 of the national lockdown to ensure the economy can gradually reopen with some easing of other restrictions.[14]
  • 12 June – Femicide is described as a second pandemic as more than 20 women and children are murdered in a matter of weeks.[15]
  • 25 May – Africa Day
  • 16 June – Youth Day

July to September

Scheduled events

Sports

Television

Deaths

See also

Country overviews

References

  1. South African court issues arrest warrant for ex-leader Zuma By CARA ANNA and MOGOMOTSI MAGOME Associated Press, ABC News, 4 Feb 2020
  2. Germany's Merkel arriving in South Africa to talk trade By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME, Associated Press/ABC News, 5 Feb 2020
  3. Joe Biden Says He Was Arrested In South Africa Decades Ago By Sarah Ruiz-Grossman, Huff Post Politics, 21 Feb 2020
  4. US politician Joe Biden recalls being arrested in SA for trying to see Nelson Mandela Cheryl Kahla, The South African, 2020-02-22
  5. Elias Meseret (February 19, 2020). "Pompeo says South Africa land seizures would be 'disastrous'". AP.
  6. More Soweto learners hospitalized after eating dodgy sweets James Richardson, The South African, 2020-02-22
  7. Coronavirus: Here’s how to track the spread of the disease Cheryl Kahla, The South African, 2020-03-05
  8. "South Africa to Gradually Ease Regulations After Lockdown". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved Apr 19, 2020.
  9. "South African Airways Nears Collapse With Plan to Fire All Staff". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved Apr 19, 2020.
  10. "South Africa's COVID-19 crisis strengthens Ramaphosa's economic reform hand". Reuters. 23 April 2020. Retrieved Apr 23, 2020.
  11. News, A. B. C. "Africa's 43% jump in virus cases in 1 week worries experts". ABC News. Retrieved Apr 24, 2020.
  12. "Coronavirus: Cuban doctors go to South Africa". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved Apr 26, 2020.
  13. "SAfrica minister apologises for police officer's anti-Muslim rant". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved Apr 26, 2020.
  14. These fast food outlets will be delivering during Level 4 lockdown Cheryl Kahla, The South African, 2020-04-30
  15. CNN, Bukola Adebayo. "South Africa has the continent's highest Covid-19 cases. Now it has another pandemic on its hands". CNN. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  16. "South African Business Mogul Richard Maponya Dies At 99". iharare.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  17. "SA's first black world boxing champion Peter Mathebula has died". dispatchlive.co.za. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  18. "Former U'hage mayor Bicks Ndoni dies". news24.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  19. Santu Mofokeng, Photographer Who Elegantly Immortalized Lives of Black South Africans, Is Dead at 64
  20. Umkhonto we Sizwe's first explosives whizz Harold Strachan dies
  21. Joseph Shabalala, Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder dies at 78 CNN World, 11 Feb 2020
  22. Zoe Gail, singer who switched on the lights in Piccadilly after the wartime blackout – obituary (subscription required)
  23. Maritzburg-born playwright and actor dies suddenly
  24. Sol Kerzner dies after struggle with cancer
  25. Credo Mutwa passes on at 98 years old
  26. JUST IN: Renowned SA scientist Gita Ramjee dies of complications due to Covid-19
  27. General Constand Viljoen, former SADF commander and political leader, dies at 86
  28. Last surviving member of notorious Stander Gang dies
  29. ANC Stalwart Denis Goldberg Passes Away at 87
  30. Football legend 'Sugar Ray' Xulu dies aged 81
  31. Ewie Cronje dies aged 80
  32. Tributes pour in for Council of Medical Schemes chair Dr Clarence Mini who died of Covid-19
  33. Stellenbosch University mourns death of professor after surgery
  34. Jeanne Goosen sterf op 81 (in Afrikaans)
  35. SA dancer and choreographer Kirvan Fortuin stabbed to death allegedly by 14-year-old girl
  36. Iconic SA author Elsa Joubert, 97, dies of Covid-19
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