2025 in South Africa

See also: 2025 in Southern Africa

← 2024 2023 2022 2025 in South Africa → 2026 2027 2028
Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	List of years in South Africa

Events in the year 2025 in South Africa .

Incumbents

• President: Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC)
• Deputy President: Paul Mashatile (ANC)
• Chief Justice: Mandisa Maya
• Deputy Chief Justice: Mbuyiseli Madlanga
• President of the Supreme Court of Appeal: Mahube Molemela
• Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal: Dumisani Zondi
• Chairperson of the Electoral Court of South Africa: DH Zondi
• Speaker of the National Assembly: Thoko Didiza (ANC)
• Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly: Annelie Lotriet (DA)
• Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly: John Hlophe (uMkhonto weSizwe)
• Leader of Government Business: David Mabuza (ANC)
• Government Chief Whip (of the National Assembly): Pemmy Majodina (ANC)
• Opposition Chief Whip (of the National Assembly): Siviwe Gwarube (DA)
• Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces: Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane (ANC)
• Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces: Sylvia Lucas (ANC)
• Leader of the Opposition of the National Council of Provinces: Cathlene Labuschagne (DA)
• Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces: Seiso Mohai (ANC)

Cabinet

The Cabinet, together with the President and the Deputy President, forms the Executive.

Main article: Second Cabinet of Cyril Ramaphosa

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces

Main article: 28th South African Parliament

Provincial Premiers

See also: Premier (South Africa)

• Eastern Cape Province: Oscar Mabuyane (ANC)
• Free State Province: Mxolisi Dukwana (ANC)
• Gauteng Province: Panyaza Lesufi (ANC)
• KwaZulu-Natal Province: Thami Ntuli
• Limpopo Province: Phophi Ramathuba
• Mpumalanga Province: Mandla Ndlovu
• North West Province: Lazarus Mokgosi
• Northern Cape Province: Zamani Saul (ANC)
• Western Cape Province: Alan Winde (DA)

Events

January

• 6 January – A truck crashes into a minibus and another vehicle on Van Reenen's Pass in KwaZulu-Natal, killing 18 people and seriously injuring an infant. ^[1]
• 15 January – At least 78 miners are confirmed dead and 246 others are rescued following the end of protracted rescue efforts at the closed Buffelsfontein mine in North West Province that began in July 2024. ^[2]
• 27 January – A fire at the Booysens slum in Johannesburg destroys 1,500 homes and displaces hundreds of residents. ^[3]
• 30 January – MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, is arrested on terrorism charges on suspicion of inciting violence on social media that contributed to the 2021 South African unrest. ^[4]

February

• 7 February – US President Donald Trump orders a halt in US aid for South Africa after accusing it of confiscating land under new land laws and for its genocide case against Israel. ^[5]
• 15 February – Muhsin Hendricks, described as the world's first openly gay imam, is shot dead in an ambush near Gqeberha. ^[6]
• 19 February – The annual presentation of the government budget is abruptly canceled for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994 and is moved to March amid opposition by the Democratic Alliance to a 2% increase in value-added tax proposed by the African National Congress. ^[7]

Art and entertainment

• List of South African submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

Holidays

Further information: Public holidays in South Africa

Source: ^{[8] [9]}

• 1 January - New Year's Day
• 21 March - Human Rights Day
• 18 April – Good Friday
• 21 April – Family Day
• 27–28 April – Freedom Day
• 1 May - International Workers' Day
• 16 June – Youth Day
• 9 August - National Women's Day
• 24 September – Heritage Day
• 16 December – Day of Reconciliation
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 26 December – Day of Goodwill

Deaths

• January 6: Olga Meshoe Washington, 42, attorney. ^[10]
• January 7: Winnie Khumalo, 51, singer and actress. ^[11]
• January 9: Doc Shebeleza, 51, kwaito musician. ^[12]
• January 10: Wynand Havenga, 59, darts player. ^[13]
• January 13: Niel Barnard, 75, director-general of the National Intelligence Service (1979–1992). ^[14]

See also

• 2020s portal
• Current events portal
• South Africa portal

Country overviews

• History of South Africa
• History of modern South Africa
• Outline of South Africa
• Government of South Africa
• Politics of South Africa
• National Council of Provinces (NCOP)
• National Assembly of South Africa
• Timeline of South Africa history

Related timelines for current period

• Timeline of South Africa
• 2020s
• 2020s in political history

References

1. "18 killed in a multi-vehicle crash at Van Reenen's Pass". eNCA. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
2. "South African police end mine rescue operation with at least 78 dead and 246 survivors". AP News. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
3. "Johannesburg neighbourhood devastated by fire". Africanews. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
4. "Former South Africa President Jacob Zuma's daughter is arrested on terrorism charges". AP News. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
5. "Trump signs order freezing aid to South Africa over land law". BBC. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
6. "World's 'first openly gay imam' shot dead in South Africa". BBC. 16 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
7. "South Africa abruptly cancels budget speech as governing parties dispute the details". AP News. 19 February 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
8. "South Africa Public Holidays 2025". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
9. "Public holidays in South Africa". Government of South Africa. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
10. Medupe, Kgomotso. "Kenneth Meshoe mourns daughter's passing!". Daily Sun. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
11. Zimbabwe, New (8 January 2025). "Legendary South African singer Winnie Khumalo dies at 51 after short illness". NewZimbabwe.com. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
12. Zuma, Mbalenhle (9 January 2025). "Kwaito legend Doc Shebeleza has died". Sunday World. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
13. "South Africa's first World Championship representative Havenga passes away". PDC. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
14. "Former spy boss and first negotiator for a democratic SA, Dr Niël Barnard, dies at 75". News24. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2025.

External links

• Online calendar