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EventFirst recorded discovery of diamonds in the colonial period of South Africa
13 October 1867 marks the first recorded discovery of diamonds in the colonial period of South Africa, with the very first becoming known as the Eureka diamond…
EventPieter Jacobs Marais reports discovery of gold
Pieter Jacobs Marais reports his discovery of alluvial gold in the Jukskei River on B.J. Liebenberg's farm, Bultfontein, in 1853. The site was just north of…
EventConscientious objector Ivan Toms is sentenced to 21 months imprisonment for refusing to serve in the SADF
Dr Ivan Toms was a physician who worked in the informal settlement of Crossroads in Cape Town. In 1983, he witnessed the South African Defence Force (SADF)…
EventANC President, Oliver Tambo, denies that the ANC is in secret negotiations with the South African government
The African National Congress (ANC) President, Oliver Tambo denied that the ANC was in secret negotiations with the South African government. His denial came…
EventAn inquest into the death of Ernest Dipale finds no-one criminally liable for his death
An inquest into the death of Ernest Dipale, who had died in custody at the Johannesburg Security Police headquarters, John Vorster Square on 8 August 1982,…
EventThe University of South Africa is officially opened, replacing the University of the Cape of Good Hope.
South Africa’s biggest University, the University of South Africa (Unisa) was officially opened on 2 March 1918. It had been known as the University of the…
EventA ferry carrying 200 passengers capsizes near the coastal town of Robersport in Northwest Liberia
A ferry carrying close to 200 passengers capsized in Robersport, Liberia on 14 December 2002. The passengers were returning from the funeral of a well-known…
EventDarrell Roodt was born on this day
On this day, Darrell Roodt was born in Johannesburg. Growing up during the height of Apartheid South Africa, he always used the art of film to condemn the…
EventBirth of Paul Kruger
On 10 October 1825 Paul Kruger (Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger), son of Casper Kruger, was born in Whittlesea, Eastern Cape on his grandfather's farm. In…
ANC media statement on comrade Carl Niehaus, 10 July 2009
The African National Congress (ANC) has noted a public apology made by Comrade Carl Niehaus in which he is asking for forgiveness. Comrade Carl is highly…
EventPolice constable is buried alive at Ackerville cemetery near Witbank
On 31 May, Constable S.H. Mandlazi was attacked by a crowd of people armed with spades at the Ackerville cemetery while he was attending the funeral of a…
Rethinking the William Fehr Collection
The William Fehr Collection had been on exhibition at the Castle – more or less unchanged – from the 1950s. The core of the collection comprises historical…
PlaceCaledon Museum, Eastern Cape
The Caledon Museum is split into two Buildings depicting very different parts of local History. The Victorian House, houses an abundance of artifacts…
PlaceSmuts Hall, University of Cape Town
This hall was erected as one of the first phases of the University of Cape Town's Groote Schuur campus. Among the famous residents of this hall was Mark…
EventHuman Rights Day is celebrated for the first time in South Africa
Since 1995, Human Rights Day has been a public holiday celebrated in South Africa. It shares the day with the anniversary of the infamous Sharpeville Massacre,…
EventSouth African man sets record for world’s deepest dive
South African engineer, Nuno Gomes, entered the Guinness Book of Records for mankind’s deepest dive ever on 13 June 2005. Gomes’318.25m plunge beat the record…
EventThe battle of Donkerhoek (Diamond Hill) marks the continuation of the South African War
On 11 June, 1900, Boer commandos and British forces clashed at Donkerhoek (Diamond Hill) during the South African War. The battle came after General Lord…
EventBlacks are making bonfires of their “passes” in Johannesburg
On 28 March 1960, Natives began making bonfires of their reference books in Johannesburg. Their action was the latest gesture of defiance against the pass laws…
EventJohn Vorster says SA will welcome Maoris
Prime Minister John Vorster said that South Africa would welcome Maoris in New Zealand rugby teams. The presence of Maoris, a non-White indigenous New Zealand…
EventWinnie Mandela is elected ANCWL president
Born Nomzamo Winfreda Zanyiwe Madikizela in the Eastern Cape, President Mandela’s former wife and politician was elected President of the African National…
EventWinnie Mandela attacked by a group of people
Winnie Mandela, at the time wife of imprisoned African National Congress (ANC) leader Nelson Mandela, was pelted with eggs and cool drink cans while leaving…
EventAnnouncement of Hezekiel Sepeng’s 2 years suspension
Athletics South Africa (ASA) announced that South Africa's former Olympic 800m silver medallist Hezekiel Sepeng was banned on 11 May 2005 from all competition…
EventTeboho Mokgalagadi wins gold in the Paralympic Games
George Teboho Mokgalagadi, with his hair dyed golden, won a Paralympic world record gold medal 100m sprint in his first international competition at the…
EventLocal elections receive go
An emergency session was convened by parliament on October 12, 1995, to approve legislation to permit local elections to be held on November 1. This step was…
EventKabila is inaugurated as president of the DRC
Joseph Kabila was inaugurated as president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Kabila was the country's first democratically elected president in…
EventZambian journalist, Fred M’membe is born
Fred M’membe is a Zambian journalist who founded the country’s first independent newspaper, Zambia Post. As the only independent newspaper in Zambia, Zambia…
EventOmar Bongo, former president of Gabon is born
Born Alhaji Omar Bongo Ondimba, he was president of Gabon for 41 years, making him one of the longest serving non-monarch rulers in the world. In 1990, under…
EventPLAN launches armed struggle against South Africa
On 26 August 1966, the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), the armed wing of SWAPO, fought in a battle against South African occupying forces at…
EventThe inquest into the death in detention of Dr. Neil Aggett is adjourned
The inquest into the death in detention of the white trade union leader, Dr. Neil Aggett was adjourned until 20 September. This was after the Court was told by…
EventZambian plane crashes at Libreville, Gabon killing 18 national soccer team players
A Zambian Air Force De Havilland Canada DHC-5D Buffalo carrying the Zambian national soccer team crashed in the Atlantic Ocean just 500 meters offshore from…