▁( mot or ▁race ▁track ) ▁opens . ▁▁ 1 9 5 4 ▁- ▁Ed end ale ▁Hospital ▁founded . ▁▁ 1 9 6 0 ▁- ▁Alex andra ▁High ▁School ▁for ▁white ▁boys ▁opens . ▁▁ 1 9 6 1 ▁- ▁Piet erm ar itz burg ▁becomes ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁newly ▁independent ▁Republic ▁of ▁South ▁Africa . ▁▁ 1 9 6 2 ▁- ▁Stat ue ▁of ▁Piet ▁Ret ief ▁un ve iled . ▁▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁- ▁ 6 ▁April : ▁" In ▁the ▁Natal ▁Supreme ▁Court ▁in ▁Piet erm ar itz burg , ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁longest ▁trial ▁of ▁its ▁kind ▁in ▁South ▁Africa , ▁th ir teen ▁defend ants ... are ▁sent enced ... for ▁contra ven ing ▁the ▁T error ism ▁Act ." ▁▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁- ▁Mar itz burg ▁United ▁F . C . ▁( football ▁club ) ▁formed . ▁▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁- ▁Ang lic an ▁C athedral ▁of ▁the ▁Holy ▁N ativity ▁consec r ated . ▁▁ 1 9 8 5 ▁- ▁ 5 ▁August : ▁Tre ason ▁trial ▁begins . ▁▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁- ▁September : ▁Flo od . ▁▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁- ▁Nap ier ville ▁prison ▁begins ▁operating . ▁▁ 1 9 9 0 ▁- ▁March : ▁" Se ven ▁Day ▁War " ▁occurs . ▁▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁- ▁Population : ▁ 1 5 6 , 4 7 3 ▁city ; ▁ 2 2 8 , 5 4 9 ▁met ro