SAHO global search
11,508 records
EventGambia gains independence
On this day in history Gambia became the 36th African nation to gain independence. The Gambia (officially the Republic of The Gambia) commonly known as Gambia,…
EventInternational Labour Organisation (ILO) suspends South Africa
The governing body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) voted in favour of suspending South Africa from participation in its Annual General…
EventDemocratic Republic of Somali is formed
On 1 July 1960, the independent Somali Democratic Republic, commonly known as Somalia, was formed out of former British and Italian territories, with Mogadishu…
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…
EventVaal Triangle erupts in violence
Boipatong, Bophelong, Evaton, Sebokeng and Sharpeville, five Black townships in the area known as the Vaal Triangle exploded into what some have described as a…
EventJohannesburg municipal workers strike
The biggest strike by the migrant municipal workers took place in Johannesburg, the largest and most industrialised city in South Africa. The strike involved…
EventProgressive Federal Party is formed
The Progressive Reform Party of South Africa and the 'Japie' Basson dissident group of United Party (UP) members merged to form the Progressive Federal Party …
EventTranskei gains complete independence
The oldest of the independent homelands, Transkei, gained complete independence as an autonomous republic under the policy of separate development. At its…
EventThe Chinese Community in South Africa is granted ‘White’ status
On 19 August 1970, the Chinese community, officially classed non-White in the past though they were admitted to White theatres, restaurants and residential…
EventWalvis Bay is handed over to Namibia
The South African government ended eighty-four years of control over the Walvis Bay enclave by handing over the port and twelve offshore islands to the…
EventMulti-party delegates endorses the Interim constitution
Delegates at the multiparty Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) negotiation endorsed the Interim Constitution according to which SA would have a…
EventJacob Matlala, SA flyweight, wins the World Boxing Organisation world champion title
On 15 May 1993, Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala, won the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) world champion title. Matlala had been introduced to boxing at a young age…
EventTrade Unionists convicted of kidnapping and assault
Three leading trade unionists, Jay Naidoo, Fholisani Mufamadi and Moses Mayekiso were convicted of kidnapping and assault after the holding of security…
EventSA accepted back in international cricket
The International Cricket Council (ICC) agreed to grant full membership to the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA), which would allow South African…
EventANC government tension continues
On the day that the first serious talks between the Minister of Constitutional Development, Roelf Meyer, and Cyril Ramaphosa started, ANC's Deputy President…
EventRamaphosa and Motlatsi are arrested
First general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Cyril Ramaphosa, and its president, James Motlatsi, were arrested in Newcastle, Natal. The…
EventAllan Boesak resigns from the church
The Presbytery of South Africa announced that Dr Allan Boesak, reverend of the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (Dutch Reformed Church) and leading anti…
EventANC denies responsibilities for the unrest in homelands
On this day in 1990, the African National Congress (ANC) veteran leader, Walter Sisulu, denied allegations levelled at his party by the South African…
EventUS opposes new sanctions against SA, believing they will be counterproductive to the transformation and negotiation process
In his address to the senate foreign relations committee, United States (US) Assistant Secretary of State, Herman Cohen, said that the US strongly opposed any…
EventCOSATU intensifies campaign against apartheid
South Africa's largest labour federation, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), held its third annual congress from 12-16 July 1989. The…
EventZola Budd returns to SA
World famous South African athlete Zola Budd, who had emigrated to Britain in 1984 to take part in the Los Angeles Olympic Games, announced that she has…
EventDr Ribeiro and his wife are gunned down
The medical practitioner and political activist, Dr Fabian Defu Ribeiro, and his wife, a teacher turned businesswoman, Florence Barbara Ribeiro, were finally…
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…
EventA Xhosa film wins Golden Bear award
The South African Xhosa film uCarmen eKhayelitsha became the second South African movie to compete and first to win the Golden Bear award as the best film at…
EventSix SA Tsunami survivors arrive at Lanseria
Six injured South African survivors of the tsunami in Thailand arrived at Lanseria airport on board a rescue flight from Bangkok. The tsunamis were set off a…
EventPatricia de Lille testifies at Schabir Shaik’s trial
At the time, leader of the Independent Democrats, Patricia de Lille, finally took the stand at the Durban High Court to testify in the fraud and corruption…
EventSA athlete Ernst van Dyk is hard done by at Paralympic games
Wheelchair-bound South African athlete, Ernst van Dyk, was cut off from a certain gold medal by the Mexican Saul Mendoza during the 1 500m race at the Athens…
EventMandela asks for commitment to fight AIDS
Former President Nelson Mandela, speaking in a meeting of international dignitaries in Bangkok, Thailand, said he could not receive a better birthday gift the…
EventFrancois Botha wins International Boxing Federation (IBF) title
South African heavyweight boxer, Francois (Frans) Botha, nickamed the "White Buffalo," secured a victory in a split decision against Germany's Axel Schulz to…
EventExplorer Karl Gottlieb Mauch dies
German explorer Karl Gottlieb Mauch, allegedly the first person to discover gold in South Africa, died in poverty in Stuttgart, Germany. He made geologic and…