2018 in South Africa

2018 in South Africa
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.
National Assembly
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. (A new date will be announced, after the Speaker of the National Assembly announced that the address are postponed.)
21 February – The Minister of Finance, Malusi Gigaba, is set to deliver the Budget Speech.
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.
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.
13 January – The new President of the African National Congress, Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the ANC "January 8 statement" in East London, Eastern Cape.
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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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. 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.
15 February – Cyril Ramaphosa is sworn in as President of South Africa.
16 February – President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his first State of the Nation Address.
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 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.
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.
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.
20 August
Hearings at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture start
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.
Deaths
January
3 January
Mlungisi Bali, 27, Rugby union player (Griffons, Border Bulldogs), stabbing.
Keorapetse Kgositsile, 79, Poet and journalist.
Lara Kruger, 30, Disc jockey (Motsweding FM) and transgender rights activist.
9 January
Gerald Morkel, 76, politician, Premier of the Western Cape (1998–2001), Mayor of Cape Town (2001–2002).
13 January
John Desmond "Jack" Nel, 89, Cricketer.
18 January
Lucas Mangope, 94, politician, President of Bophuthatswana (1977–1994).
19 January
Dik Abed, 73, South African-born Dutch cricketer.
20 January
Harry Selby, 92, Hunter and Safari guide.
21 January
David Pithey, 81, Cricketer.
23 January
Hugh Masekela, 78, Jazz trumpeter ("Grazing in the Grass", "Bring Him Back Home") and composer ("Soweto Blues").
25 January
Sandy Mokwena, 68, Actor ("Yizo Yizo" and e.tv's "Scandal!").
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).
31 January
David Phetoe, 85, Actor ("Generations", "Sgudi Snyasi" and "Cry, The Beloved Country").
February
1 February
John Jacob Lavranos, 91, Insurance broker and botanist.
12 February
Mogau Tshehla, 26, Footballer.
17 February
Sampie Terreblanche, 84, Economist and writer.
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).
13 March
Matthew Lester, educator, tax expert and financial columnist (The Sunday Times).
19 March
Madge Bester, 54, disability rights activist, once world's shortest woman.
April
2 April
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, 81, Anti-apartheid activist and politician, MP (since 2009),.
3 April
Pam Golding, 90, Real estate developer, founder of Pam Golding Properties.
11 April
Zola Skweyiya, 75, Politician.
28 April
Akhumzi Jezile, 29, actor & television personality, car crash.
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
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
References
South Africa
2010s in South Africa
Years of the 21st century in South Africa