# 1997 in South Africa

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive
The following lists events that happened during 1997 in South Africa.

## Incumbents

* President: Nelson Mandela.
* Deputy President: Thabo Mbeki.
* Chief Justice: vacant.

### Cabinet

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

### Provincial Premiers

* Eastern Cape Province: Raymond Mhlaba (until 4 February), Makhenkesi Stofile (since 4 February)
* Free State Province: Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri
* Gauteng Province: Tokyo Sexwale
* KwaZulu-Natal Province: Frank Mdlalose (until 1 March), Ben Ngubane (since 1 March)
* Limpopo Province: Ngoako Ramathlodi
* Mpumalanga Province: Mathews Phosa
* North West Province: Popo Molefe
* Northern Cape Province: Manne Dipico
* Western Cape Province: Hernus Kriel

## Events
### February

* 4 – The Constitution of South Africa comes into effect.

### March

* 19 – Denel and Aérospatiale sign a co-operation agreement.
* 28 – President Nelson Mandela and Prime Minister of India H. D. Deve Gowda sign the Red Fort Declaration on a Strategic Partnership during Mandela's state visit to India.

### April

* 7 – South African soap opera Muvhango debuts on SABC 2.
* 23 – Eugène Terre'Blanche, Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging leader, is convicted of attempted murder and assault in the Magistrates Court in Potchefstroom.
* 26 – Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is re-elected as president of the African National Congress's Women's League by 656 votes to 114.

### August

* Dirk Coetzee, David Tshikalange and Butana Almond Nofomela, former members of the Vlakplaas counter-insurgency unit, are granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in respect of the murder of Durban attorney Griffiths Mxenge in November 1981.

### October

* 2 – After broadcasting in its homeland for 7 months, the BBC preschool series Teletubbies premieres on South African television for the first time. The series begins on M-Net as part of its children's programming block K-T.V..
* 10 – A combined version of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and Die Stem van Suid-Afrika becomes the National Anthem.
* 30 – The South African National Defence Force announces that it had completed destroying its stock pile of anti-personnel mines.
* South Africa and India sign the terms of reference of the India-South Africa Commercial Alliance and agreements in tourism, geology and mineral resources. The science and technology co-operation program is ratified.

### December

* 16–20 – The African National Congress holds its 50th National Conference in Mafikeng.

### Unknown Date

* Cabinet and parliamentary approval is announced by Thabo Mbeki of the Defence Review which enables the South African National Defence Force to undertake tenders for R12bn worth of arms equipment.

## Births

* 3 January – Zakhele Lepasa, soccer player
* 24 January – Teboho Mokoena (soccer, born 1997), soccer player
* 11 February – Nasty C, rapper, songwriter and record producer
* 24 April – Tiisetso Makhubela, soccer player
* 25 June – Curwin Bosch, rugby player
* 15 July – Manie Libbok, rugby player
* 23 July — Bianca Tredoux, world leader in Occupational Therapy Practices
* 5 September — Lesego Kone, Public Figure
* 3 October – Jo-Ane van Dyk, javelin thrower

## Deaths

* 16 July — Lydia Lindeque, actor. (b. 1916)
* 25 November — Hastings Banda, the first president of Malawi, dies in Johannesburg (b. 1898)

## Sports
### Athletics

* 23 February – Thabiso Moqhali from Lesotho wins the South African title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:15:31 in Pinelands.