27 August—2 Sept. — Results of elections for Indian and Coloured chambers of segregated tricameral parliament show new constitution rejected: 17 per cent of those eligible voted.
3 Sept.—9 Sept. — New constitution comes into force. Protests against rent increases in townships of Vaal Triangle met with police violence; several killed. Demonstrators prevent entry of four cabinet ministers into Sebokeng township. Schools in Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging (PWV) area closed a week before end of term in face of boycott. Minister of Defence says co-operation of army and police appropriate as 'unrest' is 'not spontaneous'.
10 Sept.—16 Sept. — Ban imposed on all political meetings until 30 September in 21 magisterial districts. Increased boycott of schools in Eastern Cape. Stay-away in Soweto called in support of Vaal Triangle townships. Six UDF and NIC leaders faced with preventive detention seek refuge in British Consulate.
17 Sept.—23 Sept. — State opening of new parliament. Government spokesmen say protests are not spontaneous, that 'a small minority is whipping up revolutionary fervour'. Police attacks with teargas, rubber bullets on mourners at mass funerals of victims of police violence; hundreds arrested.
24 Sept.—30 Sept. — Schools re-open after vacation, but many in Vaal area and Eastern Cape boycotted. All full-time students expelled from University of Transi ei because of boycott. Violent incidents and clashes with police reported from townships in PWV area and Eastern Cape.
1 Oct.—7 Oct. — Protests and demonstrations continue in townships, including Bloemfontein. 220,000 pupils estimated to be boycotting. Minister of Law and Order accuses UDF of creating 'unrest' and outlines plans for greater co-operation between army and police. UDF says plans are 'basis of civil war'.
8 Oct.—14 Oct. — Students in Vaal Triangle decide to stay out of school until rents are reduced. Government says it will remove educational age-restrictions, and offers to set up Student Representative Councils (SRCs): students reject offer as SRCs could not affiliate to student organisations. Education Charter launched at AZASO rally. Several mass funerals of victims of police violence take place. Minister says UDF will not be banned 'at present', but 'monitored'.
15 Oct.—21 Oct. — Continuing widespread protests and demonstrations, and police actions in many townships. All meetings in Sharpeville banned for weekend after police kill 14 year old youth at funeral of woman killed in police action.
22 Oct.—28 Oct. — Stay-away by workers in Kwathema, on East Rand. Seven thousand police and troops mount operation in township of Sebokeng and smaller operations in two other townships. Minister of Internal Affairs says South Africa is 'engaged in a decisive battle for survival against revolutionary forces'. In Port Elizabeth all meetings of seven organisations, including UDF, banned for two days.
29 Oct.—4 Nov. — Transvaal Regional Stay-Away Committee formed, consisting of representatives of over thirty community, youth and trade union organisations. A stay-away is called for following week over educational, community and labour demands. Police and army mount a combined operation in Sharpeville and neighbouring township.
5 Nov.—11 Nov. — Two day stay-away in PWV area supported by half a million workers: also 400,000 pupils boycott classes. Police and army mount roadblocks in many areas and patrol several townships. Two days later security police begin detaining stay-away organisers: in all, over twenty detained. Eleven community councillors resign 'out of fear and disillusion'. Call for a 'black Christmas' issued by unions: this would mean a boycott of the Christmas shopping rush. A government minister says the constitutional future of Africans living permanently outside bantustans is being discussed. Violent clashes and police action reported in several townships in Pretoria, East Rand, Vaal Triangle, Eastern Cape.
12 Nov.—18 Nov. — Police and army enter Tembisa township in East Rand: clamp down on information about army participation in combined operations. Further detentions of activists. South African Institute of Race Relations says detentions for 1984 total 1,038 so far, and refer to 'worst wave of repression since 1976'. Minister of Law and Order says 130 have been killed in recent unrest, 96 of them in police action. Minister of Defence says township 'unrest' is 'visible evidence of the total onslaught against South Africa'.
