, ▁Culture , ▁Science ▁and ▁Technology . ▁ ▁Elizabeth ▁II ▁and ▁The ▁Duke ▁of ▁Edinburgh ▁visit ▁South ▁Africa . ▁ ▁May ▁▁ 1 0 ▁– ▁At ▁Va al ▁Re ef s ▁gold ▁mine ▁in ▁Or k ney , ▁a ▁run away ▁locomot ive ▁falls ▁into ▁a ▁lift ▁sh aft ▁onto ▁an ▁asc ending ▁c age ▁and ▁causes ▁it ▁to ▁pl unge ▁ ▁to ▁the ▁bottom ▁of ▁the ▁ ▁deep ▁sh aft , ▁killing ▁ 1 0 4 . ▁ ▁June ▁▁ 6 ▁– ▁The ▁Constitution al ▁Court ▁abol ishes ▁capital ▁pun ishment ▁in ▁the ▁case ▁of ▁S ▁v ▁Mak w any ane ▁and ▁Another . ▁ ▁July ▁▁ 1 9 ▁– ▁The ▁Prom otion ▁of ▁National ▁Unity ▁and ▁Re con c ili ation ▁Act , ▁No . ▁ 3 4 ▁is ▁signed ▁into ▁law ▁by ▁president ▁Nelson ▁Mand ela . ▁ ▁South ▁Africa ▁and ▁India ▁sign ▁an ▁agreement ▁on ▁co - operation ▁in ▁science ▁and ▁technology . ▁ ▁August ▁ ▁– ▁Serial ▁k iller ▁Mos es ▁S ith ole ▁is ▁arrested ▁for ▁the ▁mur ders ▁of ▁ 3 8 ▁people . ▁ ▁November ▁▁ 2 9 ▁– ▁Des mond ▁T ut u ▁is ▁appointed ▁chair person ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 7 - member ▁Tr uth ▁and ▁Re con c ili ation ▁Commission ▁( TR C ) ▁by ▁president ▁Nelson ▁Mand ela . ▁ ▁B irth s ▁▁ 8 ▁January ▁– ▁K yle ▁Edmund , ▁South ▁African - born ▁British ▁tennis ▁player ▁▁ 1 9 ▁April ▁– ▁Mad rie ▁Le ▁R oux , ▁tennis