In 2000, Thabo Mbeki, former president of the African National Congress (ANC), and the president of South Africa, received an honorary doctorate of law from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland.Image via Twitter/ @CliffShiko
On This Day in South Africa: What happened on 19 May?
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 2000, Thabo Mbeki, former president of the African National Congress (ANC), and the president of South Africa, received an honorary doctorate of law from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland.Image via Twitter/ @CliffShiko
Look at what happened on this day, 19 May 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: 19 May
1945 | The Levant Crisis began when French forces in Damascus opened fire on Syrian protesters, injuring twelve people.
1950 | The city of South Amboy, New Jersey, was completely destroyed when a barge carrying weapons bound for Pakistan exploded in the harbour.
2000 | Thabo Mbeki, former president of the African National Congress (ANC), and the president of South Africa, received an honorary doctorate of law from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland.
2015 | The Refugio oil spill spilled 142 800 US gallons (3 400 barrels) of crude oil into one of the west coast’s most biologically rich stretches of coastline in California.
2018 | An estimated 1.9 billion people watched Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.
ALSO READ: What happened on 18 May?
BIRTHDAYS
1953 | Armenian finswimmer, Shavarsh Karapetyan.
1970 | Indonesian actress, singer and producer, Nia Zulkarnaen.
1984 | South African comedian, Carvin Goldstone.
1987 | South African musician, Connell Cruise.
1991 | South African rugby union footballer, Basil Short.
DEATHS
2001 | Russian soldier and pilot, Alexey Maresyev, 85.
2009 | American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate, Robert F. Furchgott, 93.
2018 | Chinese linguist, Zhengzhang Shangfang, 85.
2021 | American comedian, Paul Mooney, 80.
SPORTS
2013 | On this day, Alex Ferguson took charge of Manchester United for the last time in the League against West Bromwich Albion F.C.
ENTERTAINMENT
1998 | On this day, Jewel released a book of poetry, “A Night Without Armor.”
AFRICAFACT
Kenya is Africa’s largest producer of geothermal energy.
