South African musician, Yvonne Chaka Chaka celebrates her birthday. Image: Flickr
On This Day in South Africa: What happened on 18 March?
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.
South African musician, Yvonne Chaka Chaka celebrates her birthday. Image: Flickr
Take a look at what happened on this day, 18 March in history. From a variety of 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: 18 MARCH
2007 | During the Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, Bob Woolmer, former coach of South Africa, was discovered unconscious in his hotel room.
1990 | The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston was the target of the largest art theft in US history when 12 artworks, valued at a combined $500 million, were taken.
1969 | The United States started covertly bombing Cambodia’s Sihanouk Trail, in which communist troops were used to infiltrate South Vietnam.
1944 | The Italian volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted, murdering 26, driving thousands of people from their houses, and destroying dozens of Allied bombers.
1965 | The first space walk was accomplished by cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, who departed Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes.
ALSO READ: What happened on 17 March?
BIRTHDAYS
1965 | South African musician, Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
1950 | South African rugby union player, Errol Tobias.
1962 | American actor and martial artist, Thomas Ian Griffith.
1965 | Eigth Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde.
1984 | Italian footballer, Simone Padoin.
ON THIS DAY: DEATHS
2014 | Nigerian author, playwright, and academic, Catherine Obianuju Acholonu, 63.
2012 | American journalist and author, Furman Bisher, 94.
2000 | German theologian and academic, Eberhard Bethge, 91.
2009 | English-American actress, Natasha Richardson, 46.
2010 | American actor and businessman, Fess Parker,86.
SPORTS
2010 | On this day, in the Europa League, Fulham stunned Juventus by winning the match at Craven Cottage, they were down 4-1 on aggregate, but they battled back to win the game 4-1 and the tie 5-4.
ENTERTAINMENT
1972 | Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold,” which features James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt on background vocals, becomes the #1 song in the US on this day.
AFRICA FACT
In 1996, Ghanaian Captain Beatrice Vormawah made history by becoming the only Black woman Sea Captain.
