A number of South Africans from diverse backgrounds across the spectrum have uttered some unforgettable words over the years. Image: Wikimedia Commons.
On This Day in South Africa: What happened on 20 October?
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.
A number of South Africans from diverse backgrounds across the spectrum have uttered some unforgettable words over the years. Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 20 October, throughout world and South African history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.
ON THIS DAY: 20 OCTOBER
1999 | Nelson Mandela addressed the Palestinian Legislative Council.
2011 | Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was captured and killed by rebel forces in a revolt that received international military assistance.
1968 | Former U.S First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy married Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis.
1973 | The iconic Australia Sydney Opera House was opened.
2005 | Saddam Hussein pleads “not guilty” at the opening of al-Dujail trial.
ALSO READ: What happened on 19 October?
BIRTHDAYS
1988 | South African model, Candice Swanepoel.
1971 | American rapper, producer and actor, Snoop Dogg.
1966 | South African cricket player, Allan Donald.
1979 | American actor, Viggo Mortensen.
1956 | British filmmaker, Danny Boyle.
ON THIS DAY: DEATHS
1983 | American country singer-songwriter, Merle Travis, 65.
1984 | English physicist, Paul Dirac, 82.
1964 | American politician, and 31st President of the United States, Herbert Hoover, 90.
1950 | American statesman, lawyer and politician, Henry Stimson, 83
1890| English soldier, geographer and diplomat Richard Francis Burton, 69.
SPORTS
2020 | On this day Tshabalala joined AmaZulu along with Memela and Mulenga.
ENTERTAINMENT
1992 | American singer Madonna released her fifth album “Erotica” on this day under Maverick, her own multimedia entertainment company. The album was enormously successful ,it was later certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and sold more than six million copies worldwide.
AFRICA FACT
All historians agree that it was the Roman use of the term “Africa” for parts of Tunisia and Northern Algeria which Ultimately gave the continent its name almost 2000 years later. However there’s no general agreement amongst scholars as to why the Romans decided to call these provinces “Africa”.
