The Sowetan reported that a petition calling for all sports venues to be opened to all races was handed to the state president, P.W. Botha. The petition, signed by 30 000 White South Africans, was organised by a Durban housewife, Mrs Lolly Mackenzie. An incident in which a Black pupil was banned from competing in an athletics competition at Menlo Park High School, Pretoria, in February 1987, caused public indignation and resulted in the petition.
20 December 1988
P.W. Botha petitioned to open all sports venues

- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019

How we know this
- 01South African Institute of Race Relations. (1989). Race Relations Survey 1988/89, Johannesburg: South African Institute of Race Relations, pp. 42 & 46.
- 02SAHO Pieter Willem Botha [online] Available at: www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed on 3 December 2013]
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). P.W. Botha petitioned to open all sports venues. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012797
South African History Online (2011) 'P.W. Botha petitioned to open all sports venues', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012797 (Accessed: 15 October 2026).
South African History Online, P.W. Botha petitioned to open all sports venues [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012797, (accessed 15 October 2026).
"P.W. Botha petitioned to open all sports venues." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012797. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "P.W. Botha petitioned to open all sports venues." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012797.
Also on 20 December
- 1900Anglo-Boer War 2 - Kitchener proposes establishment of concentration camps
- 1914Rebel commando leader Fourie is executed
- 1965Arthur Elias Letele, medical doctor and prominent ANC leader who went into exile in Basutoland, dies
- 1988Amichand Rajbansi is fired from Parliament
- 1991Egyptian and US Archaeologists discover a 5000 years old fleet of ships near the Nile
Search events by date
This day in history
What happened on your birthday?
SAHO is free because readers fund it. Donate →