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EventJudas Mahlangu, South African graphic artist, is born
Judas Mahlangu, a South African graphic artist, was born in Brakpan, on the East Rand (now Gauteng). In 1982 Mahlangu started working at the South African…
EventSeretse Khama is asked to renounce chieftaincy
Seretse Khama was the chief of the Bama-Ngwato tribe, Bechuanaland (now Botswana). Khama's problems with the British started when he married an English woman,…
EventThe energy and chemical company, Sasol, is registered
The history of Sasol began in 1927 when a White Paper was tabled in Parliament to investigate the establishment of a South African oil-from-coal industry. It…
EventGeneral J.C. Smuts (80), former prime minister of SA, dies
South Africa's former Prime Minister on two occasions, from 1919 - 1924 and 1939-1948, General J.C. Smuts passed away at the age of 80 on his Doorkloof farm in…
Event3 students from Johannesburg are the first to climb ‘Devil’s Tooth’ in the Drakensberg Range
Location: back to this day in history search archive The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in South Africa, with Thabana Ntlenyana the highest peak in…
EventSouth Africa heeds United Nations call to assist Korea
On 25 June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea in an attempt to bring it under communist rule The North Koreans were heavily supported by soldiers from the…
The Korean War breaks out
EventDisbanding of Communist Party is announced
Sam Kahn, leader of the Communist Party of South African (CPSA) and natives' representative in parliament, announced in parliament that the party has…
EventBar argues against the Suppression of Communism Bill
The Johannesburg Bar declared that if the Suppression of Communism Bill was passed, the freedom of people in South Africa would be in jeopardy. The Bar made…
EventBhawani Sannyassi Dayal dies
Bhawani Sannyassi Dayal, journalist and campaigner for Indian rights in SA, died in Ajmer, India. Dayal was one of the organisers of the Indian strike led by…
EventThe South African Government passes the Group Areas Act
Apartheid as a system was obsessed with separating the citizens of South Africa on a racial basis. This was done to foster White superiority and to entrench…
EventSeretse Khama is re-united with his British wife
Seretse Khama succeeded his father, Kgosi (King) Khama III known as Khama the Good, ruler of the Bangwanto people. Subsequent to his father’s death Khama was…
EventThe Population Registration Bill is read for the first time
The Population Registration Bill was read for the first time in Parliament. The Bill was a cornerstone of the Apartheid policy as it recognised three race…
EventRichard Mzamane Mabaso is born
South African artist, Richard Mzamane Mabaso, is born in Alexandra, Johannesburg. He started drawing and carving without any instruction and worked for a…
EventANC adopts the Programme of Action
The adoption of a Programme of Action by the African National Congress (ANC) at the December conference marked one of the most important turning points in the…
EventInternational Day for the Abolition of Slavery
This day recalls the date of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA,GA), of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic…
EventThe Berlin Airlift, which delivered food and fuel to West Berliners during a Soviet blockade, and in which the SAA took part, comes to an end
The Berlin Airlift, which delivered food and fuel to West Berliners during a Soviet blockade, and in which the SAA took part, comes to an end The Berlin…
EventThe Berlin Airlift comes to an end
The Berlin Airlift provided tons of supplies to war ravaged Berlin. Under the aid program known as the Marshall Plan, the USA supplied aid to the Western…
EventGill Marcus is born
Gill Marcus, former Deputy Minister of Finance from 1996-1999, Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank and Manager of Spoornet, was born in…
EventSA artist Tshela Matsoso is born
Leonard Tshela Mohapi Matsoso was born in Pimville, Soweto. Between 1962 and 1970, while still at school, Matsoso studied at the Jubilee Art Centre under Cecil…
EventBusiness leader Matome Maponya is born
Matome Maponya, chair/owner of several food companies in his name and deputy chair of the Agricultural and Rural Development Corporation Ltd (ARDC), was born…
EventCommission on Native Education is appointed
The government appointed the Eiselen Commission whose terms of reference were to inquire into and to report on all aspects of native education. The…
EventZulus attack Indians in Durban
The attack on Indians by Zulus in January 1949 has generated a great deal of debate about the relationship between the two communities. Most observers believe…
EventUniversal Declaration of Human Rights is adopted by the United Nations
The UN adopts and proclaims the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The day is recognised and celebrated as International Human Rights Day. For a link to…
EventSA artist Vuminkosi Zulu is born
Former graduate of the famous Rorke's Drift School of Art, South African artist Vuminkosi Zulu, was born in Mapumulo in KwaZulu-Natal. He left school at…
EventGeorge Msimang, artist, is born
Artist George Msimang was born on 26 October 1948 in Durban. Msimang's interest in art began at school although art was not offered as a subject. He left…
EventSibusiso Ndebele, The premier of Kwa-Zulu Natal province and a National Executive Committee member of the ANC, is born
The current premier of Kwa-Zulu Natal province and a National Executive Committee member of the African National Congress (ANC), Sibusiso Joel Ndebele, was…
EventAfrican leaders issue a call for African unity
Twelve African leaders, mainly from the African National Congress (ANC), issued a Call for African Unity. These leaders included I. B. Tabata, Professor…
EventDefence minister Mosioua Lekota born
The second Black minister of defence, Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota is born in Kroonstad, Free State (the former Orange Free State). Lekota is commonly known…
EventKing Goodwill Zwelithini is born in Nongoma
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, eldest son of King Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon and his second wife, Queen Thomo was born in Nongoma, Zululand (now…