1997 in South Africa

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)

Athletics

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