In 1999, Thabo Mbeki was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Rand Afrikaans University three months after taking office as South Africa’s second president since the country’s democratic elections in 1994. Photo: Mohamed Nanabhay (via Flickr, CC BY 2.0)
On This Day in South Africa: What happened on 17 September?
We look back on this day in world and South African history, remembering the people and events that shaped the world we live in today.
In 1999, Thabo Mbeki was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Rand Afrikaans University three months after taking office as South Africa’s second president since the country’s democratic elections in 1994. Photo: Mohamed Nanabhay (via Flickr, CC BY 2.0)
Look at what happened on this day 17 September in history. From various achievements and milestones throughout human history to groundbreaking inventions and events that shaped the world we live in today.
Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day
ON THIS DAY: 17 SEPTEMBER
1999 | Thabo Mbeki was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Rand Afrikaans University three months after taking office as South Africa’s second president since the country’s democratic elections in 1994.
2001 | After the September 11 attacks, the New York Stock Exchange resumed business after the longest closure since the Great Depression.
2003 | Grand Theft Auto V earned more than $500 million on its first day of sales.
2006 | The disclosure of an audio recording of Ferenc Gyurcsány’s private speech in which he admitted that his Hungarian Socialist Party had lied to win the 2006 election caused considerable unrest.
2011 | The Occupy Wall Street campaign started in New York City’s Zuccotti Park.
ALSO READ: What happened on 15 September?
BIRTHDAYS
1949 | Namibian politician, Johan de Waal.
1957 | South African politician, Beatrice Marshoff.
1985 | Czech tennis player, Tomáš Berdych.
1985 | Irish footballer, Brendan Clarke.
1994 | South African soccer player, Itumeleng Robinson Moshobane
DEATHS
2003 | German actor, Erich Hallhuber, 52.
2005 | American composer and educator, Alfred Reed, 84.
2012 | Canadian sculptor and architect, Melvin Charney, 77.
2013 | Swedish drummer and journalist, Kristian Gidlund, 30.
2015 | Latvian actress, Ingrīda Andriņa, 71.
SPORTS
1974 | Nine different Liverpool players scored in Liverpool’s record-setting 11-0 triumph over the Norwegian team of Strmsgodset in a European Cup Winners Cup First Round match.
ENTERTAINMENT
2011 | Huey Lewis & the News play at the 54th Monterey Jazz Festival in California on this day.
AFRICA FACT
The first nation in Africa to have nominees for both the Ballon d’Or and Women’s Ballon d’Or in the same year is Nigeria.
