1999 in South Africa

The following lists events that happened during 1999 in South Africa.

Incumbents

 * President:
 * Nelson Mandela (until 16 June).
 * Thabo Mbeki (from 16 June).
 * Deputy President: Thabo Mbeki (until 16 June), Jacob Zuma (starting 16 June).
 * Chief Justice: Ismail Mahomed.

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

Provincial Premiers

 * Eastern Cape Province: Makhenkesi Stofile
 * Free State Province: Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri (until 15 June), Winkie Direko (since 15 June)
 * Gauteng Province: Mathole Motshekga (until 15 June), Mbhazima Shilowa (since 15 June)
 * KwaZulu-Natal Province: Ben Ngubane (until 10 February), Lionel Mtshali (since 10 February)
 * Limpopo Province: Ngoako Ramathlodi
 * Mpumalanga Province: Mathews Phosa (until 15 June), Ndaweni Mahlangu (since 15 June)
 * North West Province: Popo Molefe
 * Northern Cape Province: Manne Dipico
 * Western Cape Province: Gerald Morkel

Events

 * January
 * 14 – South African Police Service Captain Bennie Lategan who was investigating People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) is killed in a drive-by-shooting in Cape Town.
 * 27 – Controversial youth drama series, Yizo Yizo debuts on SABC 1.


 * March
 * 4 – BBC Prime was launched for the very first time in South Africa.
 * 20 – The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), disbands.
 * 24 – Allan Boesak, former Director of the Foundation for Peace and Justice, is sentenced to 8 years in prison for fraud.
 * 31 – The Durban High Court finds Sipho Thwala guilty of 16 murders and 10 rapes and sentences him to 506 years in prison.


 * April
 * 20 – Judge Edwin Cameron, high court judge and human rights advocate, announces that he is HIV positive.
 * 23 – Makhaya Ntini, cricketer, is found guilty of raping a student.


 * May
 * 29 – Cathy O'Dowd becomes the first woman to summit Mount Everest from both the north and south sides.


 * June
 * 2 – The second democratic elections take place and is won by the African National Congress.
 * 10 – George Bizos is awarded the Order for Meritorious Service, Class II, by President Nelson Mandela.
 * 16 – Thabo Mbeki becomes the second President of South Africa.
 * Watershed are signed to EMI Music South Africa and begin recording their first album In the Meantime.


 * August
 * British children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends returns to airing on television in South Africa after a very long absence since its very last air on TV1 (now SABC 2). The series will now broadcast on M-Net as part of their K-T.V. children's block.


 * September
 * 2 – A South African Air Force Alouette III helicopter crashes near Port Elizabeth, killing pilot Major K.A. Newman and seriously injuring two crew members.
 * 10–19 – The All-Africa Games take place in Johannesburg.


 * October
 * 22 – Henry Navigator, a 13,000 ton Cyprus bulk carrier, sinks off Bok Point about 35 km north of Cape Town.
 * 23 – A South African Air Force Oryx helicopter crashes near Kroonstad, killing 10 people and injuring 14 others.
 * Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh visit South Africa.
 * The Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


 * November
 * 11 – UK children's stop motion animated series Bob the Builder begins on SABC 2 and was shown every Thursday.
 * 15 – Afrikaans language television channel kykNET is launched.


 * December
 * 3 – Government signs the final purchasing agreement in the arms deal and the loan agreement to pay for the equipment is signed by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel.


 * Unknown Date
 * Statistics South Africa conducts a Survey of Activities of Young People.

Births

 * 14 January - Henco Pieters, future developer
 * 25 January - Ndavi Nokeri, Miss South Africa 2022
 * 16 February – Chloe Meecham, water polo player
 * 20 February - Boohle, singer
 * 3 March - Sphephelo Sithole, soccer player
 * 2 April – Elaine, singer and songwriter
 * 26 April - Laura Wolvaardt, cricket player
 * 22 May - Bongeka Gamede, soccer player
 * 11 June - Paballo Mavundla, actor
 * 29 November - Kamo Mphela, dancer and singer
 * Masego Kgomo, muti murder victim. (d. 2009)

Deaths

 * 10 January – Gavin Relly, businessman and Chairman of Anglo American. (b. 1926)
 * 26 May – David Millin, 78, movie director, producer, and cinematographer (b. 1920)
 * 27 July – Simon "Mahlathini" Nkabinde, mbaqanga singer (b.1938)
 * 15 November – Pieter van der Byl, politician (b. 1923)