SAHO global search
63,723 records
EventThe first issue of the weekly periodical ‘TIME’ appeared on news stands
On this day in history, the first issue of the weekly periodical TIME appeared on newsstands. The first issue was 32 pages and featured a charcoal sketch of…
EventXhosa poet Nontsizi Mgqwetho mourns the death of her mother
On this date a poem by Nontsizi Mgqwetho lamenting the death of her mother was published. Mgqwetho was the first woman poet to publish in Xhosa. From 1920 to…
EventArchaeologists announce they have found treasures in the tomb of Tutankhamen in Egypt
EventBoutros Boutros Ghali, former UN Secretary General, is born
Boutros Boutros Ghali was born in Egypt on 14 November 1922 into a prominent Coptic Christian family. He studied International Law and International Relations,…
EventDr. Chris Barnard, medical practitioner who performed the first heart transplant, is born
Dr. Chris Barnard is born Christiaan Neethling Barnard, medical practioner who performed the first heart transplant, was born in Beaufort West, Western Cape…
EventSouthern Rhodesia rejects joining the Union of South Africa
Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) rejected joining the South African Union in a referendum. Voters had to choose between establishing self government, joining…
EventThomas Titus Nkobi is born
Thomas Titus Nkobi was born in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in Southern Matabeleland. At the age of ten, Nkobi followed his father who was a migrant…
EventThe inauguration of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) is celebrated
The inauguration of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits) was celebrated a few months after the University College, Johannesburg was granted…
EventSouth Africa concludes an agreement with the Marconi Company for a high
During the South African War in 1899, Marconi wireless equipment was tested in South Africa, with mixed results. Land-based military radio proved problematic,…
EventSheila Cussons is born
South African poet Sheila Cussons was born at Moravia, near Piketberg in the Cape Province. She studied fine arts at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg…
EventThe League of Nations hands over German colonies
The League of Nations, an international body which preceded the United Nations, agreed to hand over three former German colonies as mandates. Tanganyika, which…
EventThe South African Naval Service is founded
EventThe Rand Revolt Ends
The strike by mineworkers on the Witwatersrand, also known as the Rand Revolt, ended on March 18 1922. The rebellion was a response by White mineworkers to a…
EventLabour pioneer Samuel Long is arrested
Samuel Alfred (Taffy) Long, heralded as one of South Africa's greatest working-class martyrs, was arrested after the defeat of Fordsburg during the Rand Revolt…
EventThe Rand Revolt strikers’ stronghold at Fordsburg Square falls to the government
The Rand Rebellion of 1922 was an armed uprising, also referred to as the Rand Revolt or Red Revolt, which occurred during a period of economic depression…
EventA strike by White mineworkers turns into open rebellion
Angry White workers, on strike since 28 December 1921, stormed and occupied police stations, railway installations and mines on the Witwatersrand. They also…
EventWits attains full university status
The University College in Johannesburg attained full University status under the name the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburg. The origin of…
EventThe Rand Mine Workers Revolt intensifies
The Rand mineworkers revolt intensifies when 3 mineworkers are shot and killed outside the prison in Boksburg. Read our features on the Rand Rebellion.
EventAbout 22 000 miners on Witwatersrand gold mines go on strike in what became known as the Rand Rebellion
In January 1922 some 22 000 white miners downed their tools and went on strike in what became known as the Rand Rebellion or the Red Revolt. Eventually martial…
Coal Miners Strike on the Rand
On this day Transvaal coal miners embarked on a strike because of a wage cut of 5 percent per shift. On 10 January 1922 White mine workers on the Rand gold…
EventThe Rand Revolt breaks out
The end of World War I was followed by a global depression that affected South Africa as well. Soon after the war, in 1918 and 1919, Black workers across…
EventNewspaper editor John Tengo Jabavu dies
John Tengo Jabavu, the founder of the first Black-language newspaper, Imvo Zabantsundu (Native/Bantu Opinion) and political leader dies in Cape Town. He was…
EventSeretse Khama is born
Sir Seretse Khama was born on 1 July 1921 in Serowe in the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland, now known as Botswana. He studied in South Africa and…
EventThe South African Reserve Bank is established
The South African Reserve Bank was established in terms of the Currency and Banking Act, 1920 (Act No. 31 of 1920) in Parliament.This came into being after a…
EventThe first Comrades Marathon takes place
The first Comrades Marathon was run by Vic Clapham, ex World War One veteran and other 34 runners, who initiated it as a reunion. Clapham wanted to remember…
EventSouth Africa mandated to govern South
The League of Nations, the world body formed after World War 1 in 1919, afforded South Africa a mandate to govern South-West Africa (now Namibia). The mandate…
EventThe General Assembly of the League of Nations meets in Geneva for the first time
On 15 November 1920, the General Assembly of the League of the Nationsmet in Geneva, Switzerland for the first time. The League was an international body…
EventCellist and music teacher Betty Pack is born
Cellist and music teacher Betty Pack, who started several youth orchestras, was born in Nylstroom, Transvaal. At the age of 16, she gave her first public…
EventMgqwetho,the first poem of Nontisi is published
Mgqwetho, the first poem of Nontisi (Cizama, Imbongikazi yakwaCizama) was published in Umteteli under her clan name, Cizama. She is the sole significant…
EventSamuel Marks (77) dies in Johannesburg
Sammy Marks was a diamond buyer of Kimberley, founder of the African and European Investment Company and Senator in the Parliament of the Union of South Africa…