SAHO global search
63,739 records
EventSusanna Kok, SA medical missionary whose work led to the effective diagnosis and treatment of leprosy, dies
Susanna Helena Kok was born in 1911 in the Free State. She studied medicine at the Universities of Cape Town and the Witwatersrand and became a missionary…
Rosalie van der Gught dies
EventState of Emergency enters 100th day
Location: back to this day in history search archive The state of emergency entered its 100th day after it was announced on July 20. P W Botha in an attempt…
EventFamine anniversary in Ethiopia
Following major American television's first airing of the famine crisis in Ethiopia, the world celebrated the day as famine anniversary. The day was used to…
Event’Purple rain’ used on women protesters
The police in Adderley street, Cape Town used their new water cannons to suppress a Cape riot that had, for the third time, spread to White areas. The rioting…
EventSRC president Ngwako Ramalepe dies
Ngwako Ramalepe, president of the Student Representative Council (SRC) at Modjadji Teacher Training College, died in police custody after first being assaulted…
EventDelmas Treason Trial starts
The Delmas Treason Trial, up to that time the longest trial in the history of SA, started in Delmas, east of Pretoria. Twenty-two Transvaal United Democratic…
EventBophuthatswana drops squatting charges against Bosplaas residents
The 'homeland' government of Bophuthatswana under the presidency of Chief Lucas Mangope decides to withdraw its squatting charges against the Bosplaas…
EventNational Day of Prayer is observed peacefully
A National Day of Prayer was peacefully observed, despite fears of violence between youth and security forces in Soweto and other major townships. Called by…
Coloured schools closed by the Apartheid government re-open
EventPretoria disputes compensation for Gaborone raid
The government of South Africa disputed compensation claims from the government of Botswana for damages caused by the July 1985 South African Defence Force…
EventFormer Student Representative Council (SRC) Vice-President shot by Police
Twenty-two years old former Student Representative Council (SRC) Vice-president at the University of Transkei and staunch opponent of Transkei government,…
EventDeath sentence for Rapists
Two White men, Schalk Burger and George Scheepers, were sentenced in Klerksdorp to be hanged to death for the rape of a Black woman, Ginny Gotsoine in February…
EventSupreme Court changes ruling on forced removals, traditionally
From 1960 to 1983, the apartheid Government forcibly moved 3.5 million Black South Africans in one of the largest mass removals of people in modern history…
EventFrontline states call on RSA government to release Mandela and end Apartheid
The six frontline states of Angola , Botswana , Mozambique , Tanzania , Zambia and Zimbabwe called on the South African government to release Nelson Mandela …
EventSchools closed in the Western Cape
Carter Ebrahim, Minister of Education and Culture for the mixed race community, announced that 454 out of a total of over 900 schools were going to be closed…
EventZola Budd breaks a world record
In a low key event in Crystal Palace, England, South African born athlete Zola Budd broke the 5 000 metres world record set by Ingrid Kristiansens of Norway by…
EventUDF activist Toto Dweba’s mutilated body is found
According to Coleman (ed.) in A Crime Against Humanity, the mutilated body of Toto Roy Dweba, member of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and of the Natal…
Archbishop Tutu snubs P. W. Botha
EventPW Botha gives the “Rubicon” Speech in Durban
On the night of 15 August 1985, South Africa's President P. W. Botha delivered the infamous "Rubicon" Speech in Durban. Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time…
EventYouth rage follows the funeral of Victoria Mxenge
Political violence by the youth began after the funeral of assassinated Victoria Mxenge, a civil rights lawyer, who was respected and liked by the Congress of…
EventSoweto High School under siege
South African Defence Force soldiers, travelling in a convoy of more than ten armoured vehicles, surrounded the Thaba-Juluba high school in Soweto and arrested…
EventSir Patrick Manson, Scottish doctor and founder of tropical medicine is born
On 3 October 1844, Sir Patrick Manson was born in Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He was an important physician at the time, and contributed to research…
EventBritain proclaims Natal a British colonial territory
British forces under Governor Sir George Napier took over Natal and proclaimed it a British Colony. A year later the colony was put under the Cape Colony…
EventDick King returns home after securing help for Port Natal
Dick King (Richard Philip) returned to Port Natal on board the Conch after his heroic rescue operation. King, accompanied by his young after-rider Ndongeni as…
Governor George Napier attempts to reoccupy Port Natal
EventThe first Dutch Reformed Church in the Orange Free State is founded
On 31 March 1842, Reverend Daniel Lindley instituted the first congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Orange Free State, which makes this day the…
Natal becomes a Voortrekker Republic
African slaves aboard Amistad revolt
EventThird Voortrekker Town Established
Regulations were proclaimed for the layout of Pietermaritzburg, the third Voortrekker town and the first in Natal. It was named after Piet Retief and Gerrit…