1952 in South Africa

	1952 in South Africa
1949 1950 1951 « 1952 » 1953 1954 1955

Timeline of South African history

Events

23 March - Ex-regent Mshiyeni, uncle of Zulu King Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon, warns the Zulu people not to participate in the Defiance Campaign. The King repeatedly denies having any views on the matter in the press.

6 April - The African National Congress, South African Indian Congress and the Coloured People’s Congress launches the Defiance Campaign against apartheid
6 April - The van Riebeeck Festival is held in Cape Town, marking the 300th anniversary of the landing at Table Bay by Jan van Riebeeck

3 May - The first regular jet flight between South Africa and Britain is started with the arrival of a De Havilland Comet with 36 passengers at Johannesburg

8 October - A uranium plant opens at Millsite near Krugersdorp operated by West Rand Consolidated Mines, the first in the world to extract uranium as a byproduct of the gold refining process
12 October - The first uranium is worked at the West Rand plant

Nelson Mandela is given a 9 month suspended sentence and forbidden to leave Johannesburg for the next 6 months

26 April - Popo Simon Molefe, co-founder of the Azanian People's Organisation, is born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg
10 May - Ruben Xulu, artist, is born deaf at the Hiabisa mission station near St Lucia
12 May - Membathisi Mdladlana, member of Parliament and government minister, is born in Keiskammahoek
26 June - Simon Mann, British Army officer, security expert and mercenary is born
23 October - Antjie Krog, a poet, novelist, playwright, and journalist, is in Kroonstad