2018 in South Africa explained

The following lists events that happened during 2018 in South Africa.

Incumbents

National Government

• President of South Africa
  • Jacob Zuma (ANC) – until 14 February
  • Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC) – from 15 February
• Acting President: Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC) – 14–15 February
• Deputy President
  • Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC) – until 15 February
  • David Mabuza (ANC) – since February
• Leader of the Opposition: Mmusi Maimane (DA)
• Chief Justice: Mogoeng Mogoeng
• Deputy Chief Justice: Raymond Zondo
• President of the Supreme Court of Appeal: Mandisa Maya
• Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal: Vacant
• Chairperson of the Electoral Court of South Africa: Khayelihle Kenneth Mthiyane
• Speaker of the National Assembly: Baleka Mbete (ANC)
• Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces: Thandi Modise (ANC)

Cabinet

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

See main article: article and Second Cabinet of Jacob Zuma.

See main article: article and Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (South Africa).

National Assembly

See main article: article and 26th South African Parliament.

Provincial Premiers

• Eastern Cape Province: Phumulo Masualle (ANC)
• Free State Province: Ace Magashule (ANC)
• Gauteng Province: David Makhura (ANC)
• KwaZulu-Natal Province: Willies Mchunu (ANC)
• Limpopo Province: Stanley Mathabatha (ANC)
• Mpumalanga Province: David Mabuza (ANC)
• North West Province: Supra Mahumapelo (ANC)
• Northern Cape Province: Sylvia Lucas (ANC)
• Western Cape Province: Helen Zille (DA)

Predicted and scheduled events

Events that are scheduled to occur in 2018 in South Africa.

February

• 8 February – The President of South Africa is set to deliver the State of the Nation address to a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, at 19:00.^[1] (A new date will be announced, after the Speaker of the National Assembly announced that the address are postponed.^{[2] [3] [4]})
• 21 February – The Minister of Finance, Malusi Gigaba, is set to deliver the Budget Speech.^[5]

Events

The following lists events that happened during 2018 in South Africa.

January

• 5 January – The first Test match in the series between South Africa and India takes place in Cape Town (Newlands Cricket Ground). South Africa win the match within four days, by 72 runs.^[6]
• 9 January – President Jacob Zuma announces a commission of inquiry into allegations of State capture. He selects Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to head the commission.^{[7] [8]}
• 13 January – The new President of the African National Congress, Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the ANC "January 8 statement" in East London, Eastern Cape.^{[9] [10]}
• 13 January – The second Test match in the series between South Africa and India takes place in Centurion (SuperSport Park). South Africa win the match 135 runs.^[11]
• 24 January – The third Test match in the series between South Africa and India takes place in Johannesburg (Wanderers Cricket Ground). India win the match by 63 runs.^[12] South Africa win the Test series 2–1.

February

• 1 February – The first ODI match in the series between South Africa and India takes place in Durban (Kingsmead Cricket Ground). India win the match by 6 wickets.^[13]
• 4 February – The second ODI match in the series between South Africa and India takes place in Centurion (SuperSport Park). India win the match by 9 wickets.^[14] South Africa's score of 118/10 becomes South Africa's lowest score in South Africa by South Africa.
• 6 February – The Speaker of the National Assembly announces that the State of the Nation address is postponed to a later date.^{[15] [16]}
• 13 February – The Secretary-General of the ANC, Ace Magashule, officially announces that the National Executive Committee of the ANC has officially recalled Jacob Zuma as President of South Africa.^[17] He is given until the end of the day to step down as president.
• 14 February – Jacob Zuma announces his resignation as President of South Africa, after a speech of about 25 minutes, just before 23:00.^[18] In resigning his position, he effectively evaded a vote of no confidence that was to be supported by his own party. According to Section 90(1) of the Constitution of South Africa, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa became Acting President of South Africa.^{[19] [20]}
• 15 February – Cyril Ramaphosa is sworn in as President of South Africa.^[21]
• 16 February – President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his first State of the Nation Address.^[22]

April

• 4 – 15 April South Africa competes in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

May

• 2 – Sandile Mantsoe is found guilty at the High Court in Johannesburg of murdering his 22-year-old ex-girlfriend Karabo Mokoena, whose stabbed and burnt remains were found buried in a shallow grave in a field in Johannesburg. The case has caused shock and outrage, with the victim becoming symbolic of the violence faced by women in South Africa.^[23]
• 23 May – South African cricketer, AB de Villiers who is recognised as one of the greatest batsmen in modern-day cricket suddenly announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 34.^{[24] [25]}

July

• 20 July – Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) stated that the time had come to discuss the possibility of reinstating the death penalty in South Africa.^{[26] [27]}

August

• 8 August – The National Freedom Party calls for bringing back the death penalty in South Africa after the death of Khensani Maseko, in a similar call to one made by the IFP weeks ago.^[28]
• 20 August
  • Hearings at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture start^[29]

November

• 12 November — Three men - Vernon Witbooi, Geraldo Parsons and Eben van Niekerk - are convicted at the Western Cape High Court of kidnapping, raping and brutally killing Stellenbosch University student Hannah Cornelius, whose body was found outside Stellenbosch. They are also convicted of the attempted murder of a friend of Hannah's who was abducted at the same time and left for dead near Kraaifontein. The three men receive life sentences.^[30]

Deaths

January

• 3 January
  • Mlungisi Bali, 27, Rugby union player (Griffons, Border Bulldogs), stabbing.^[31]
  • Keorapetse Kgositsile, 79, Poet and journalist.^[32]
  • Lara Kruger, 30, Disc jockey (Motsweding FM) and transgender rights activist.^[33]
• 9 January
  • Gerald Morkel, 76, politician, Premier of the Western Cape (1998–2001), Mayor of Cape Town (2001–2002).^[34]
• 13 January
  • John Desmond "Jack" Nel, 89, Cricketer.^[35]
• 18 January
  • Lucas Mangope, 94, politician, President of Bophuthatswana (1977–1994).^[36]
• 19 January
  • Dik Abed, 73, South African-born Dutch cricketer.^[37]
• 20 January
  • Harry Selby, 92, Hunter and Safari guide.^[38]
• 21 January
  • David Pithey, 81, Cricketer.^[39]
• 23 January
  • Hugh Masekela, 78, Jazz trumpeter ("Grazing in the Grass", "Bring Him Back Home") and composer ("Soweto Blues").^[40]
• 25 January
  • Sandy Mokwena, 68, Actor ("Yizo Yizo" and e.tv's "Scandal!").^[41]
• 29 January
  • Clive van Ryneveld, 89, Cricketer (National team, 1951–1958), rugby union player (England national rugby union team) and politician (United Party and Progressive Party).^[42]
• 31 January
  • David Phetoe, 85, Actor ("Generations", "Sgudi Snyasi" and "Cry, The Beloved Country").^[43]

February

• 1 February
  • John Jacob Lavranos, 91, Insurance broker and botanist.^[44]
• 12 February
  • Mogau Tshehla, 26, Footballer.^[45]
• 17 February
  • Sampie Terreblanche, 84, Economist and writer.^[46]

March

• 8 March
  • Peter Temple, 71, South African-born Australian writer (The Broken Shore, Truth, White Dog), Miles Franklin Award winner (2010), Gold Dagger (2006).^[47]
• 13 March
  • Matthew Lester, educator, tax expert and financial columnist (The Sunday Times).^[48]
• 19 March
  • Madge Bester, 54, disability rights activist, once world's shortest woman.^[49]

April

• 2 April
  • Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, 81, Anti-apartheid activist and politician, MP (since 2009),.^[50]
• 3 April
  • Pam Golding, 90, Real estate developer, founder of Pam Golding Properties.^[51]
• 11 April
  • Zola Skweyiya, 75, Politician.^[52]
• 28 April
  • Akhumzi Jezile, 29, actor & television personality, car crash.^[53]

June

• 20 June
  • Billy Modise, 87, South African former ambassador.

August

• 13 August
  • Mark Minnie, 37, former narcotics branch policeman and co-author of The Lost Boys of Bird Island, dies from apparent suicide^[54]
• 15 August
  • Veronica Sobukwe, 91, nurse, political activist and wife to Robert Sobukwe

Public holidays in South Africa, 2018

• 1 January – Monday, New Year's Day
• 21 March – Wednesday, Human Rights Day
• 30 March – Friday, Good Friday
• 2 April – Monday, Family Day (Easter Monday)
• 27 April – Friday, Freedom Day
• 1 May – Tuesday, Labour Day
• 16 June – Saturday, Youth Day
• 9 August – Thursday, National Women's Day
• 24 September – Monday, Heritage Day
• 16 December – Sunday, Day of Reconciliation
• 17 December – Monday, Public holiday
• 25 December – Tuesday, Christmas Day
• 26 December – Wednesday, Day of Good Will

Notes and References

1. News: Date announced for 2018 State of the Nation address. 27 January 2018. en-US.
2. News: State of the nation address postponed. 6 February 2018. en-US.
3. News: State of the nation address 2018 postponed. Mathope. Gosebo. The Citizen. 6 February 2018. en.
4. News: State of the Nation Address postponed. Staff Reporter. The M&G Online. 6 February 2018. en.
5. News: Save the date – Two vitally important events of 2018. 27 January 2018. en-US.
6. Web site: 1st Test, India tour of South Africa at Cape Town, Jan 5–8 2018 Match Summary ESPNCricinfo. ESPNcricinfo. 10 January 2018.
7. Web site: Zuma announces state capture inquiry. www.enca.com. en. 10 January 2018.
8. Web site: Statement by President Jacob Zuma on the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry into State of Capture The Presidency. www.thepresidency.gov.za. en. 10 January 2018.
9. News: East London chosen to host ANC 2018 birthday address. SA Breaking News. 3 January 2018. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20190508094700/https://www.sabreakingnews.co.za/2017/11/01/east-london-chosen-to-host-anc-2018-birthday-address/. 8 May 2019. dead.
10. News: ANC January 8th statement to be delivered in East London. Mathope. Gosebo. The Citizen. 3 January 2018. en.
11. Web site: 2nd Test, India tour of South Africa at Centurion, Jan 13–17 2018 Match Summary ESPNCricinfo. ESPNcricinfo. 6 February 2018.
12. Web site: 3rd Test, India tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Jan 24–27 2018 Match Summary ESPNCricinfo. ESPNcricinfo. 6 February 2018.
13. Web site: 1st ODI (D/N), India tour of South Africa at Durban, Feb 1 2018 Match Summary ESPNCricinfo. ESPNcricinfo. 6 February 2018.
14. Web site: 2nd ODI, India tour of South Africa at Centurion, Feb 4 2018 Match Report ESPNCricinfo. ESPNcricinfo. 6 February 2018.
15. News: State of the nation address postponed. 6 February 2018. en-US.
16. News: State of the nation address 2018 postponed. Mathope. Gosebo. The Citizen. 6 February 2018. en.
17. News: ANC confirms it has recalled Jacob Zuma. 13 February 2018. en-US.
18. News: I resign, but not because I agree with you, Zuma tells the ANC. News24. 15 February 2018. en.
19. News: Ramaphosa is now acting president. News24. 15 February 2018. en.
20. News: Ramaphosa now acting president after Zuma's resignation. 19 February 2018. en-US.
21. News: Cyril Ramaphosa sworn in as President of RSA. Davis. Gaye. 19 February 2018. en.
22. News:
    1. SONA2018: President Cyril Ramaphosa's full speech IOL News
    . 19 February 2018. en.
23. Web site: South Africa's Sandile Mantsoe guilty of Karabo Mokoena murder . BBC News . 10 September 2023 . 2 May 2018.
24. News: AB de Villiers: South Africa batsman retires from international cricket. 23 May 2018. BBC Sport. 24 May 2018. en-GB.
25. News: Reactions – 'The biggest entertainer of the last decade'. ESPNcricinfo. 25 May 2018.
26. Web site: Should SA bring back the death penalty? IFP believes it may be time. 23 July 2018.
27. Web site: Let's talk about bringing back the death penalty, says IFP. 20 July 2018.
28. Web site: NFP echoes IFP calls for death penalty after rape victim's suicide. 7 August 2018.
29. Web site: State capture commission almost up and running. 28 May 2018.
30. Web site: 'Cruel, vengeful, vicious' - life sentences for Hannah Cornelius' murderers . 6 September 2023 . 12 November 2018.
31. Web site: Vodacom Bulls remember Mlungisi Bali – Vodacom Blue Bulls. thebulls.co.za. en-ZA. 10 January 2018. 5 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180105001827/http://thebulls.co.za/news/vodacom-bulls-remember-mlungisi-bali/. dead.
32. News: Struggle stalwart Keorapetse Kgositsile dies at age of 79. 10 January 2018. en-US.
33. News: Motsweding FM DJ Lara Kruger has died. 10 January 2018. en-US.
34. News: Former WC premier Gerald Morkel dies aged 76. Brandt. Kevin. 10 January 2018. en.
35. Web site: Jack Nel. Cricinfo. 10 April 2018.
36. News: Former Bophuthatswana leader dies – SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.. 18 January 2018. SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.. 27 January 2018. en-US.
37. News: South African allrounder Dik Abed dies aged 73. ESPNcricinfo. 27 January 2018.
38. News: Harry Selby, Renowned Hunter and Safari Guide, Is Dead at 92. McFadden. Robert D.. 2018. The New York Times. 27 January 2018. en-US. 0362-4331.
39. News: An obituary for David Pithey. 22 January 2018. Get It Online Durban. 27 January 2018. en-US.
40. News: Jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela dies. 2018. BBC News. 23 January 2018. en-GB.
41. News: SA veteran actor #SandyMokwena dies IOL News. 27 January 2018. en.
42. News: Clive van Ryneveld, former SA captain, dies aged 89. ESPNcricinfo. 6 February 2018.
43. News: Veteran actor David Phetoe dies aged 85. Sekhotho. Katleho. 6 February 2018. en.
44. Web site: Au Cactus Francophone : Fiche de : Lavranos, John Jacob. COCHARD. Yann. www.cactuspro.com. 10 April 2018.
45. News: Polokwane City defender Mogau Tshehla has passed on. www.realnet.co.uk. Kick Off. 13 February 2018. en-gb.
46. News: Veteran political economist Professor Sampie Terreblanche dies at 84. News24. 10 April 2018. en.
47. Web site: Acclaimed crime writer Peter Temple dies, aged 71. Steger. Jason. 11 March 2018. The Sydney Morning Herald. en. 10 April 2018.
48. News: Tax expert Matthew Lester dies. 10 April 2018. en-US.
49. Web site: Worlds former shortest woman, Madge Bester, passes away. Jacaranda FM. en-GB. 10 April 2018.
50. News: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela: Anti-apartheid campaigner dies at 81. BBC News. BBC. 2 April 2018.
51. News: Property icon Pam Golding dies. 10 April 2018. en-US.
52. Web site: Politician Zola Skweyiya dies. www.enca.com. en. 11 April 2018.
53. Web site: Molife Kumona. Renowned television personality Akhumzi Jezile has died at 29. 28 April 2018. gq.co.za.
54. News: Co-author of alleged apartheid paedophile ring book found dead in PE. citizen.co.za. en.