The following lists events that happened during 1986 in South Africa.
Incumbents
State President: P.W. Botha. Chief Justice: Pieter Jacobus Rabie.
Events
January
4 – Two people are killed and two others injured when their vehicle detonates an anti-tank land mine at Stockpoort in the Ellisras area, not far from the Botswana border. 5 – A policeman and an insurgent are killed at a police roadblock on the East London-King William's Town road. 7 – A grenade is thrown at a Railways policeman in Soweto. 8 – A Pretoria sub-station is damaged by an explosion. 9 – A limpet mine explodes at 21h15 and damages a substation in Jacobs, Durban. Later a second limpet explodes, killing a policeman and injuring other policemen and two electrical workers who arrive at the scene. 18 – Two limpet mines damage a sub-station in Westville, Durban. 20 – A coup d'état, led by Major General Justin Lekhanya, deposes Lesotho's prime minister Leabua Jonathan and re-instates King Moshoeshoe II in power. 20 – African National Congress members based in Lesotho are deported to Zambia. 20 – Four limpet mines damage an electrical pylon near Durban at 20h45. A fifth mine, probably aimed at the police and repair crew, explodes later with no injuries. 24 – Police Sergeant Makhulu is killed in a grenade attack on his home in Mamelodi. 31 – During the opening of Parliament State President P.W. Botha outlines government policy on the restoration of South African citizenship to Blacks. A Soweto man throws a grenade at three policemen and is killed when the policemen retaliate.
February
2 – A soldier and a cadre are killed near Alldays. 4 – Four South African Army soldiers are injured when a cadre throws a grenade into their military vehicle at Gugulethu. 9 – A limpet mine destroys two police vehicles at Umlazi police station near Durban when parked after returning from riot patrol. 10 – A large bomb is defused by police in Amanzimtoti, 200 m from where the December 1985 blast took place for which Andrew Zondo was hanged. 12 – A pick-up detonates an anti-tank mine near Messina, with no injuries. 16 – A police Casspir detonates an anti-tank land mine in Mamelodi. 17 – Two policemen and two cadres are killed while one is arrested in Zwide. 19 – An explosion in a toilet block near the radio control room at the Cambridge East police station causes no injuries. An explosion occurs at a Durban sub-station. At De Deur a limpet mine causes structural damage to a sub-station. A hand grenade explodes in a Transkei minister's official car.
March
3 – Seven black men, the Gugulethu Seven, are killed in a confrontation with police in Gugulethu. 4 – An explosion on the 3rd floor of John Vorster Square injures two policemen and two civilians. 7 – A limpet mine is found at the Hillbrow Police Station and is safely detonated by police. 7 – A State of Emergency that lasted eight months is lifted by the government. 11 – Lowveld massacre: South African apartheid army and police forces opened fire on students attending a trial in the Kabokweni magistrate court, with fatalities among the casualties. 12 – Esther Masuku, mother of youth activist and SACC member Oupa Masuku, is killed in a hand grenade attack on their house in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. 12 – The Eminent Persons Group meets imprisoned African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela. 15 – A limpet mine explodes in front of the Springs railway station, seriously injuring one person. 17 – A mini-limpet is discovered at the Afrikaans high school at Elsburg, Germiston and is safely detonated. 18 – Police Constable Sinki Vuma is shot dead at his home in Mamelodi. 19 – A car belonging to a special branch policeman is destroyed by a limpet mine. 19 – A bomb blast occurs inside the property of the Springs New Apostolic Church. 21 – Four mines explode at an Escom sub-station in Durban. 25 – Trevor Manuel's ban is lifted. 26 – A Vosloorus man is killed by police when he throws a grenade at them. Police come under fire at a funeral in Dobsonville.