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See also: 1982 in South Africa, other events of 1983, 1983 in South African sport, 1984 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history.

Events

January

• 26 January - One person is killed and five injured by a bomb that explodes at the New Brighton Community Council offices
• 30 January - A bomb explodes at the Pietermaritzburg Supreme Court Explosion

February

• 7 February - Cedric Mayson, a former Methodist minister is charged with treason and being a member or an active supporter of the African National Congress. The case was to resume on the 18 April but he fled to Britain while on bail.
• 10 February - Umkhonto we Sizwe cadres burn 5 square kilometres of land in the Richards Bay area in an arson attack
• 11 February - The Drakensberg Administration Board offices are damaged by a bomb
• 12 February - A bomb injures 76 people at the Free State Administration Board offices
• 20 February - Umkhonto we Sizwe cadres try to set the Pelindaba Nuclear Research Station on fire in an arson attack

March

• 12 March - A bomb on railway coach on Johannesburg bound passenger train explodes
• 21 March - Second bomb explodes at the Supreme Court in Pietermaritzburg

April

• 21 April - Third bomb explodes at the Supreme Court in Pietermaritzburg
• 30 April - The Prime Minister of South Africa, Pieter Willem Botha meets with Lesotho's Minister of Foreign Affairs to discusses the Lesotho Highlands Water Project

May

• Two explosions cause R250 000 worth of damage to the Offices of the Department of Internal Affairs in Roodepoort
• A skirmish on the Botswana border leaves four terrorists or freedom fighters and a South African Army soldier dead
• 13 May - An explosive device (37 kg of explosives in a gas cylinder) is found and defused by police under a bridge on the Southern Freeway, Durban
• 20 May - A car bomb explodes during the afternoon rush hour period outside the South African Air Force Head Quarters, opposite a building housing military intelligence personnel in Pretoria. (19 killed and 217 injured)
• 23 May - The South African Air Force retaliates by attacking African National Congress facilities in the suburb of Matola in Maputo, Mozambique with 12 Impala MkIIs and 2 Mirage F1AZs (Operation SKERWE)

June

• 17 June - Police defuse a bomb found on a power pylon at New Canada railway station in Soweto
• 28 June - Bomb explodes at the Department of Internal Affairs in Roodepoort

July

• 7 July - Two bombs are found and defused at the Durban Supreme Court while in Roodepoort two bombs detonate at 00:40 causing structural damage to the Department of Internal Affairs and the Police Station

August

• 6 August - A bomb explodes at Temple Israel in Hillbrow just before Marais Steyn is due to speak there; no injuries
• 20 August - A bomb causes R100,000 damage to a sub-station near Mamelodi
• 26 August - A Limpet mine explodes at 18:50 at the Ciskei (former Bantustan)consular generals offices in the Carlton Centre, Johannesburg; one injured

September

• 8 September - Two bombs damage sub-stations in the Johannesburg area (Randburg and Sandton)
• 11 September - More sub-stations are damaged by Limpet mines In Johannesburg (Bryanston North and Fairland)
• 12 September - Ciskei offices in Pretoria are damaged by a Limpet mine
• 13 September - A bomb explodes at 19h45 in the Rowntree's factory in Umbilo, Durban
• 29 September - Police defuses a bomb that was found on an electrical pylon in Vereeniging

October

• 11 October - Limpet mines explode at 02:20 and damage a large fuel storage tanks, three rail tankers and one road tanker at Bela Bela (previously Warmbaths). Two more devices set to explode 1 hour later were found on door of Civil Defence office. PW Botha was due to speak in Warmbaths
• 14 October - two electricity pylons near Pietermaritzburg are destroyed by Limpet mines at 02:00 and 03:00

November

• 1 November - Buses at municipal bus depot in Durban are damaged by a bomb that explodes at midnight
  • The railway line at Germiston is damaged by a bomb
  • Police defuse a bomb on the railway line near Springs
  • The South African Defence Force launch Operation Askari
• 2 November - A bomb that explodes at 02:55 at the Police workshop in Wentworth, Durban damages vehicles and an adjacent student residence (Alan Taylor Residence)
• 3 November - The Bosmont railway station is damaged by a bomb
  • Bosmont/Newclare railway line damaged in explosion
  • The railway line near Germiston damaged by explosion
  • Police defuseThe railway line near Springs; explosives defused
• 22 November - Electrical pylons are damaged by two explosions near Durban

December

• 3 or 7 December - Bomb explodes at the office of Department of Community Development in Bree Street, Johannesburg
• 8 December - the railway line 1 km from Bloemfontein is maliciously damaged and a locomotive and two trucks are derailed
• 12 December - Seven people are injured when a Limpet mine explodes at the offices of Department of Community Development and Commissioners Court in Johannesburg
• 15 December - Three bombs explode on the beach front outside the Natal Command HQ in Durban
• 19 December - A bomb causes R60,000 worth of damage to the KwaMashu (Durban)township offices

Unknown date

• A new Constitution provides for a tricameral parliament for coloureds, Indians and whites
• United Democratic Front is launched by 575 community groups, trade unions, sporting bodies, women's and youth organizations

Sport

Athletics

• 30 April – Kevin Flanegan wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:16:21 in Durban.

Births

• 13 April – Schalk Burger, Springboks rugby player
• 12 June – Bryan Habana, Springboks rugby player
• 23 August - Wayne Sandilands, footballer

Deaths

• James Arthur Calata, African National Congress leader and Anglican clergyman, dies in Cradock
• 10 September - John Vorster, former Prime Minister and President, dies at the age of 67
• 19 September - Yusuf Dadoo, doctor and politician, dies at the age of 74