In 2006, President Thabo Mbeki led the government delegation to the funeral of the former president of the state, P.W. Botha died of a heart attack. Image: Wikimedia Commons
On This Day in South Africa: What happened on 08 November?
We look back on this day in history and remember the people and events that shaped the world we live in today.
In 2006, President Thabo Mbeki led the government delegation to the funeral of the former president of the state, P.W. Botha died of a heart attack. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 08 November, throughout world and South African history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.
ON THIS DAY: O8 NOVEMBER
1887 | The Johannesburg Stock Exchange was established to facilitate the explosion of trade sparked by the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand.
2006 | President Thabo Mbeki led the government delegation to the funeral of the former president of the state, P.W. Botha died of a heart attack.
2016 | United States presidential election: Donald Trump was elected as the 45th president of the United States.
2013 | Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, struck the Visayas region of the Philippines; the storm killed at least 6 340 people with over 1 000 missing, and caused $2.86 billion in damage (USD 2013).
2011 | Potentially hazardous asteroid 2005 YU55 passed within 0.85 lunar miles of Earth (about 324 600 kilometres or 201 700 miles), the closest approach by an asteroid of its brightness since 2010 XC15 in 1976.
2006 | Israeli-Palestinian conflict: The Israel Defense Forces killed 19 Palestinians in their homes during a shelling attack in Beit Hanoun.
ALSO READ: What happened on 07 November?
BIRTHDAYS
1977 | Rugby union referee from South Africa, Craig Joubert.
1970 | Retired South African pole vaulter, Riaan Botha.
1951 | English lawyer and judge, Laura Cox.
1970 | Costa Rican footballer and coach, José Porras.
1978 | American basketball player, Maurice Evans.
ON THIS DAY: DEATHS
2004 | English-Australian author and playwright, Peter Mathers, 73.
2007 | Dutch journalist, poet, and politician, Aad Nuis, 74.
2003 | English actor and screenwriter, Bob Grant, 71.
2011 | American cartoonist, Bil Keane, 89.
1975 | Portuguese-French poet and author, Jaime Montestrela, 50.
SPORTS
1996 | Steve Coppell left Crystal Palace to take over as manager of First Division Manchester City in October 1996 but after just 33 days and six games as boss he resigned on this day from the Maine Road job due to stress.
ENTERTAINMENT
2004 | Shania Twain released her “Greatest Hits” album on this day and later received Billboard’s 2004 Album of the Year.
AFRICA FACT
One of the interesting facts of Kalahari Desert is that it is not a desert in the strict sense of the word. It is semi-desert and driest areas receive 110-200mm of rain per year.
