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See also: 1951 in South Africa, other events of 1952, 1953 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history.

Events

March

• 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.

April

• 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

May

• 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

October

• 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

Unknown date

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

Births

• 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

Deaths