This day in history

Dundee and Glencoe were retaken by General Sir Redvers Buller troops as the South African War II 1899-1902 (Anglo-Boer War II 1899-1902) intensified. The area west of Glencoe was under the command of General Schalk Burger, who would later be replaced by General Joachim Fourie. The two areas were and are still separated from each other by less than 10km in KwaZulu Natal. The war ended on 31 May, 1902 following the signing of the Peace Treaty of Vereeniging by all the parties involved in the war.

The International Day of Families was proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1993, as a day to provide an opportunity to celebrate families. This day is celebrated on 15 May every year.It is supported by the UN’s Division for Social Policy and Development. The theme for this year’s International Day of Families is “Families Matter for the Achievement of Development Goals.”

The second plenary session of the Congress for a Democratic South Africa  (CODESA II) was convened in Johannesburg. Unlike the first session CODESA II ended in a deadlock as parties involved could not agree on an interim government and a constitution. The first sitting, CODESA I in March 1992 laid an important foundation for future multi party talks in South Africa, including the setting of a date to finalise outstanding issues, but was delayed for two months. The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) refused to attend the CODESA II in protest against what it perceived as undermining Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini's traditional role as political leader. Less than a month later ANC President, Nelson Mandela announced that he was suspending all talks with the Government in the wake of a massacre in Boipatong on 17 June when more than 40 were killed, and scores injured. It is believed that most of them were supporters of the ANC.

On 15 May 2004, the president of the Federation of International Football Association's (FIFA), Joseph "Sepp" Blatter, announced that South Africa would host the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The announcement was made in Zurich, where South Africa was represented by a delegation that included Nelson Mandela and Head of the Local Organizing Committee, Danny Jordan. South Africa beat Morocco by four votes to win the bid. The victory was a morale booster, as South Africa had previously lost the bid to Germany by a single vote in 2000.  

Judge Pieter Combrinck finds Dirk Coetzee, Apartheid policeman and Vlakplaas assassination squad Commander together with Almond Nofomela and David Tshikakalanga guilty of murdering human rights lawyer and UDF activist Griffiths Mxenge. Mxenge was murdered in 1981 and his mutilated body was found near Umlazi Stadium outside Durban. His wife, Victoria Mxenge, was assassinated in 1985 outside her home in Umlazi. In 1990, Dirk Coetzee and his Security Police 'hit squad' was investigated by a Commission of Inquiry ordered by President F.W. de Klerk. The Commission led by Judge Louis Harms heard testimonies from Coetzee and others. Coetzee related how he watched a colleague murder Mxenge.  In 1996, Coetzee had to appear again, this time before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.  

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 by his father, and turned professional in 1979. Under the guidance of Theo Mthembu, Matlala won his first professional victory against Fraser Plaatjie in Port Elizabeth in 1980. Matlala then went on to become the South African Flyweight Champion, and later won the International Boxing Association (IBA) Flyweight title in 1997. Matlala was preceded by Pat Clinton in the Flyweight WBO world champion title, and later succeeded by Alberto Jimenez, who later defeated him in the 10th round at Hammanskraal.

South Africa suffered heavily in the international sports arena as result of its apartheid policy. Prior to the Tokyo Olympic games in 1964, South Africa was banned from taking part in the games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after serious threats by African nations and the Soviet countries. On 15 May 1970, the IOC extended South Africa's ban, resulting in the country's exclusion from the 1972 games in Munich, Germany until the 1996 Atlanta games.

 After the Second Anglo-Boer War (South African War), which had started on 11 October 1899, there were attempts to reach peace. On 15 May 1902, thirty delegates from each republic, Transvaal and Orange Free State attended the Peace Conference, which was held in Vereeniging. The delegates were elected by the commandos after two republic leaders Gen. L. Botha and M.T Steyn held meetings with them in their respective territories. The 60 Boer representatives converged at Vereeniging Conference to discuss their independent status. They elected General C.F Beyers as chairman. The discussions were recorded under the supervision of two secretaries for the republics Rev. J. D. Kestell and D. E. van Velden. During the Conference, President M.T Steyn of Orange Free State got ill and was moved to the Krugersdorp Hospital for medical attention. General C.R. de Wet represented him until the peace was signed in Pretoria on 31 May 1902. The delegates at conference appointed five members commission consisting of Gens, Louis Botha, C.R de Wet, J.H. de la Rey, J.B. Hertzog and J.C Smuts to negotiate with British representatives Lord Kitchner and Alfred Milner in Pretoria from 19 May onwards. After long discussions the delegates conceded to the British proposal to relinquish their independence and become British colonies with 54 votes to 6. The peace was then signed on 31 May 1902 in Melrose House, Pretoria.  

James Sofasonke Mpanza (Sofasonke meaning We shall all die), community leader, founder of the Sofasonke Party and a champion for better housing for Johannesburg's Blacks, was born in Georgedale, today part of Cato Ridge. Mpanza was the only member of the Orlando Advisory Board on which the Communist Party was not represented. Mpanza himself had been on both sides of the law: first as a court interpreter in his younger days, and then as a condemned murderer. He was reprieved at the last minute and later released. In his heydays he was regarded as the father of Soweto.