Timeline Saturday 20 July 1985

Events on Saturday 20 July 1985 1

• 1985 South Africa declares state of emergency Apartheid government cracks down amid unrest The South African government declared a state of emergency across large parts of the country on 20 July 1985 in response to escalating anti-apartheid unrest. The declaration granted police and security forces sweeping powers of detention without trial. It marked a sharp escalation in international condemnation and sanctions against the apartheid regime.