The following lists events that happened during 1996 in South Africa. Incumbents President: Nelson Mandela. Deputy President: F.W. de Klerk (until 30 June) along with Thabo Mbeki. Chief Justice: Michael Corbett then vacant. Cabinet The Cabinet, together with the President and the Deputy President, forms part of the Executive. National Assembly Provincial Premiers Eastern Cape Province: Raymond Mhlaba Free State Province: Mosiuoa Lekota (until 18 December), Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri (since 18 December) Gauteng Province: Tokyo Sexwale KwaZulu-Natal Province: Frank Mdlalose Limpopo Province: Ngoako Ramathlodi Mpumalanga Province: Mathews Phosa North West Province: Popo Molefe Northern Cape Province: Manne Dipico Western Cape Province: Hernus Kriel Events January 15 – King Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho is killed in a car accident. February 26 – South Africa and Algeria restore diplomatic ties. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in his capacity as Grand President of the British Commonwealth Ex-Services League, visits South Africa. March 11 – The trial of General Magnus Malan and 19 co-accused begins in the Durban Supreme Court. 19 – President Nelson Mandela is granted a divorce from Winnie Mandela in the Rand Supreme Court. 23 – Approximately 6,000 Inkatha Freedom Party supporters armed with fighting sticks, spears, clubs and battle axes rally in the Tugela Ferry area of KwaZulu-Natal in defiance of a national ban on traditional weapons. April 15 – The Truth and Reconciliation Commission begins its formal hearings. May 2 – South Africa and China exchange letters granting each other most-favoured-nation status. 8 – South Africa's new constitution is adopted by the Constitutional Assembly. 9 – The National Party withdraws from the coalition government, giving the African National Congress full political control. June 19 – Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina Gonzalez visits South Africa. July Nelson Mandela visits the United Kingdom on a state visit. August 4 – Rashaad Staggie, Hard Livings gang leader, is killed by the vigilante group People Against Gangsterism and Drugs. Mimi Coertse receives the highest accolade an artist can receive from the Austrian government, the Oesterreichishe Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst. September 6 – The Constitutional Court delivers judgment on the new constitution. 11 – A mining agreement on wages and working conditions is signed between the Chamber of Mines and the National Union of Mineworkers. October 11 – The constitution is amended by the Constitutional Assembly. 30 – Colonel Eugene de Kock of the South African Police is sentenced to 212 years in prison.