Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 5 December, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.
ON THIS DAY: 5 DECEMBER
1934 | The National party led by General J.B.M. Hertzog and the South African Party led by General J.C. Smuts unify to officially form The United South African National Party.
1956 | The South African police arrested the leaders who attended the multi-racial Congress of the People Conference in June 1955. 156 black and white leaders were arrested and charged with treason.
1977 | Egypt breaks off diplomatic relations with Libya, Syria, Iraq, Algeria and South Yemen due to diplomatic tensions/wars.
1979 | Justice M.T. Steyn was appointed as the leader of Commission of Inquiry into the reporting of defence matters by the P.W Botha.
2005 | Six people die due to the Lake Tanganyika earthquake. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was affected the most.
DEATHS
1918 | South African lawyer and politician, Schalk Willem Burger (66)
2013 | Former President of South Africa, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (95)
BIRTHDAYS
1894 | The first state president of South Africa, Charles Robberts Swart
1924 | South African teacher and founder of the Pan Africanist Congress, Robert Sobukwe
1926 | Nigerian’s first female professor and university dean, Adetowun Ogunsheye
1946 | South African race car driver, Sarel van der Merwe
1953 | South African born, Namibian journalist, Gwen Lister
1969 | Zimbabwean cricketer, Mark Dekker
SPORT
1999 | South Africa’s Ernie Els wins the Nedbank Million Dollar tournament.
2009 | CAF Confederation Cup final: Stade Malien beat ES Sétif 3-2.
ENTERTAINMENT
2001 | Ocean’s Eleven movie is released in California.
2002 | The Lord of the Rings second movie, The Two Towers, is released in New York.
AFRICA FACT
During the “scramble for Africa”, all of Africa was colonised by foreign powers, except for Ethiopia and Liberia. Ethiopia’s empire was successful and Liberia was full of released slaves.
