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EventPaul Mosaka establishes the African Democratic Party
Paul Ramotsoane Mosaka, an influential businessman, in conjunction with Senator Hyman Basner established the African Democratic Party (ADP). The organisation…
EventGovernor-General Sir Patrick Duncan dies
Governor-general of the Union of South Africa, Sir Patrick Duncan, died in Pretoria at the age of 72. He came to South Africa as Sir Alfred Milner's private…
SA boxer Pierre Fourie is born
EventMember of the African National Congress and Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Thizwilondi Mabudafhazi is born
Member of the African National Congress and Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs since 17 June 1999, Rejoice (Joyce) Thizwilondi Mabudafhazi was born in…
EventSA artist Mmakgoba Sebidi is born
South African artist Mmakgoba Helen Sebidi was born in Marapyane (Skilpadfontein) in the Hammanskraal area. Her grandmother, a traditional artist, was her…
EventFietas, site of forced removal in Johannesburg, is renamed Pageview
Fietas, a western suburb of Johannesburg, was officially re-named Pageview in honour of Mr. J.J. Page, the Mayor of Johannesburg at the time. Up until this…
EventWWII: SA troops to fight in Europe
South African prime minister, General J.C. Smuts, asked parliament's approval to send troops to Europe, contrary to his promise in 1939 that SA troops would…
EventWW2: British 8th army marches into Tripoli
On 23 January 1943 the British 8th army marched into Tripoli, later occupying the Libyan capital in this World War Two battle. This was part of a series of…
EventGeneral Barry Hertzog, former South African Prime Minister, dies
James Barry Munnick Hertzog was born into a German immigrant family in 1866. He attended school in Kimberly and Stellenbosch, and completed a Bachelor's degree…
EventGerman torpedoes sink the SS Mendoza close to Durban
Torpedoes deployed by the U-178 a German submarine sank the SS Mendoza a ship bound for Durban on the Indian Ocean. The SS Mendoza was an ex-Vichy French ship…
EventThe Second Battle of El Alamein starts
After various North African operations late in June and in July 1942, Lt.-Gen. B.L. Montgomery, the new commander of the Eighth Army in World War 2, initiated…
EventCharles Nqakula , Minister of Safety and Security and Chairperson of the SACP, is born
Minister of Safety and Security of the Republic of South Africa since 7 May 2002 and current Chairperson of the South African Communist Party (SACP), Charles…
EventChris Hani is born
Thembisile 'Chris' Hani, Chief of Staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe, military arm of the African National Congress (ANC) and General-Secretary of the South African…
EventThe fall of the fortress town of Tobruk
The fall of the of the fortress town of Tobruk was a major blow to the Allied forces during World War Two, as the town contained substantial material, supplies…
EventJapanese submarines attack naval base in Madagascar
On 30 May 1942, Japanese submarines launched an attack on the Diego Suarez naval base off Madagascar. This attack was in support of the beleaguered Vichy…
EventTennis champion Frew Mcmillan is born in Springs
On 20 May 1942, Frew McMillan, doubles player with Bob Hewitt and Wimbledon tennis champion, was born in Springs. On his own, McMillan also won two pro single…
EventZola Skweyiya is born
Minister of Social Development of the Republic of South Africa since 17 June 1999, Dr Zola Sidney Themba Skweyiya, was born in Simonstown. Skweyiya is the…
EventJacob Zuma, Former President of South Africa and of the ANC, is born.
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma was born on the 12 April 1942, at Inkandla, in KwaZulu Natal. At the age of 17, he joined the African National Congress (ANC),…
EventThe HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire sink near Colombo
The HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire, steaming towards Colombo, were sunk on 5 April 1942 after receiving notification of an impending Japanese raid on Ceylon …
EventWilliam Selborne Dies
William W. P. Selborne, British High Commissioner in SA and Governor of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, dies at the age of 82. His predecessor was Lord…
EventSimon Petros Matseke, prominent in African social and political life, dies in Pretoria
Peter Matseke was born in 1878 in Pretoria. When the Anglo-Boer War broke out, he was drafted as driver for Boer Commandos. Through that experience, he learnt…
EventJapanese attack American Naval Forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Japanese planes struck just before 8AM on a Sunday morning. Within a short time five of eight battleships at Pearl Harbor were sunk or sinking, with the rest…
EventDr Ben Ngubane is born
Dr Baldwin Sipho (Ben) Ngubane, political activist and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) politician, was born at Inchanga Roman Catholic Mission, Camperdown, Natal…
EventForeign Affairs Deputy Minister Pahad is born
Aziz Pahad, SA Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, was born in Schweizer Reneke, Western Transvaal (North West Province). Pahad had been a m ember of the…
EventManto Tshabalala - Msimang, controversial minister of health, is born
SA health minister Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang was born at Emfume south coast of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Tshabalala-Msimang matriculated at Inanda Seminary…
EventSir Abe Bailey, Rand mine magnate, dies.
Abe Bailey was born in Cradock, Cape Colony, in 1864. His father, a wagon maker and wool merchant, later moved with his family to Queenstown. When Bailey was…
EventWorld War II: The evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk ends as German forces capture the beach port
On 4 June 1940, the evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk ended as German forces captured the beach port. The nine-day evacuation, the largest of its kind…
EventHattie McDaniels Wins An Academy Award
29 February 1940 Hattie McDaniels Wins An Academy Award Hattie McDaniels becomes the first African American woman to win an Academy Award for her…
EventAbdullah Abdurahman, medical doctor and Cape community leader, dies in Cape Town
Dr Abdullah Abdurahman, medical doctor and Cape community leader, died on this day at the age of 69. Founder and leader of the anti-apartheid African People's…
The Reunited National Party is founded by Malan and Hertzog
From the 1920s to the 1940s J.C. Smuts, J.B.M. Hertzog and D.F. Malan were the most prominent White politicians in South Africa. In 1933 Hertzog and Smuts…