SAHO global search
23,171 records
EventProtest against pass laws in Langa
Hundreds of Blacks assembled in the Langa township outside Cape Town to protest against new pass laws. Delivering a fiery speech to the crowd Dora Tamana, a…
EventThe official launch of the SABC
In 1934, General James Barry Munnik (JBM) Hertzog, prime minister of South Africa, ordered an official investigation into all aspects of Broadcasting in South…
EventManuel Pinto da Costa becomes the president
After a brief period of transitional government Dr Manuel Pinto da Costa, the leader of the Committee for the Liberation of São Tomé and PrÁncipe(CLSTP)…
EventNelson Mandela announces intentions on nationalisation policy
The African National Congress (ANC) Deputy President Nelson Mandela stated that his party was prepared to abandon its long-held policy of nationalisation if…
EventBilateral talks to continue
A consensus was reached following the fall-out between the leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) and government over the continuation of talks toward…
EventCoup attempt on S Doe’s government in Liberia
A coup attempt headed by Brigadier-General Thomas Quiwonkpa, a faction of the Liberian military failed to take power from Samuel Doe. It was a third coup…
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,…
EventThe Battle of Blood River
On 16 December 1838 the Battle of Blood River took place near the Ncome River in KwaZulu Natal. The Battle of Blood River was between the Voortrekkers under…
EventVan Riebeeck establishes the first burgher commando
Jan van Riebeeck established the Burgher Militia a few days before a Khoi-Khoi (Hottentot) rising, sometimes called the 'First Hottentot War' (though it was…
EventSibusiso Vilane tells about his conquest of Everest
Mpumalanga game ranger, Sibusiso Vilane, became the first Black South African to reach the top of Mount Everest, an 8 848m Himalayan peak, one of the world's…
EventBettie Cilliers, famous SA painter, is born
Bettie Cilliers-Barnard, famed SA painter and mother of actress Jana Celliers was born in Rustenburg, Transvaal. Though Cilliers-Bernard was at one time one of…
EventSelf government is granted to the Transvaal
The Transvaal Colony, former Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) or Transvaal Republic, was granted self-government status by Britain, according to the terms of…
EventWorkers embark on strike action
Sixty-one Xhosa-speaking workers, under the leadership of their Headman known as One O'clock, went on strike at the Brakpan Electric Works. The workers marched…
EventStandard Bank becomes the first bank to opens its doors on the Witwatersrand
Standard Bank was established in Port Elizabeth in 1862, then known as The Standard Bank of British South Africa. It started doing business in a tent in…
EventGeneral Sir Redvers Henry Buller’s troops relieve British forces at Ladysmith
General Sir Redvers Henry Buller's troops relieved British forces at Ladysmith near Durban, KwaZulu Natal. The British forces had been under siege by the…
EventSamora Machel pledges solidarity with the people of South Africa
President Samora Machel of Mozambique pledged solidarity with the South African people, in reaction to the massacre on 30 January 1981, where more than 14…
EventCecil Edwin Frans Skotnes is born in East London, Eastern Cape
Cecil Edwin Frans Skotnes,a muralist and graphic artist, was born on 1 June 1926 in East London, Eastern Cape. In 1946 he studied drawing under Henrich Steiner…
EventHelen Zille, former leader of the Democratic Alliance, is born in Johannesburg
Helen Zille studied at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Transvaal (now Gauteng) where she obtained a BA Degree. She went on to become a…
EventLevy Mwanawasa, third President of Zambia dies in Paris , France.
Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was born in Northern Rhodesia (Now Zambia) in 1948. He studied law at the University of Zambia and went on to form his own law firm,…
EventSpringbok rugby player, Schalk Burger is born in Port Elizabeth
Schalk Willen Petrus Burger Jnr. was named after his father who was also a rugby player. As a child he was very successful in various sports codes. He plays…
EventAlexis Preller, SA visual artist, dies
Alexis Preller was born on 6 September 1911 in Pretoria. Before pursuing a career in art, he had worked as a clerk. He left for England in 1934 where he…
EventBantu Holomisa deposes Stella Sigcau as President of the Transkei
On 30 December 1987, Major General Bantu Holomisa, commander of the Transkei Defence Force (TDF), a staunch African National Congress (ANC) activist, led a…
EventCharges against 53 of the 76 Africans detained after the Sharpeville massacre are dropped
On 21 March 1960, 69 Africans were killed when South African police opened fire on demonstrators, who were protesting against the pass laws in the township of…
ArchiveStaffrider Vol.3 No.1 Feb 1980
Contents and Contributors To Kill a Man's Pride by Mtutuzeli Matshoba, The Poet in Love by Nape 'a Motana, The Slumbering Spirit by Jayapraga Reddy, Two…
EventFearon Fallows, the first Astronomer Royal at the Cape, is born
Fearon Fallows, the first Astronomer Royal at the Cape, was born to John and Rebecca Fallows on 4 July 1789 in Cockermouth, Cumberland, in England. He spent…
EventThe first Cape to Rio yacht race takes place
The first Transatlantic yacht race between Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) took place on this day. SAS (South African Ships) Tafelberg served as…
EventTrojan Horse Massacre Memorial unveiled
On 24 September 2005, Heritage Day, the Trojan Horse Memorial was unveiled in Athlone as a remembrance of the three victims who were killed by the security…
EventGideon Nieuwoudt dies
Location: back to this day in history search archive Gideon Nieuwoudt a former apartheid-era security police colonel, who was involved in the murder of several…
Entering Namibia without visas
It was on 27 October 1966 that the United Nations General Assembly terminated the mandate over South West Africa and declared that henceforth the territory…
Place'Aguada de Sao Bras', Mossel Bay
Bartholomew Dias and his crew landed with his men on 3rd of February 1488, but Mossel Bay's History can be traced back, with the help of Archaeological…