In 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of national disaster in accordance with section 27 of the Disaster Management Act and called for a 21-day national lockdown in South Africa. IMAGE: GCIS
On This Day in South Africa: What happened on 23 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.
In 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of national disaster in accordance with section 27 of the Disaster Management Act and called for a 21-day national lockdown in South Africa. IMAGE: GCIS
Take a look at what happened on this day, 23 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: 23 MARCH
1966 | South African Communist Party leader Abram Fischer is sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of communism
2020 | President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of national disaster in accordance with section 27 of the Disaster Management Act and called for a 21-day national lockdown in South Africa.
2021 | A container ship ran aground and obstructed the Suez Canal for six days.
2001 | The Russian Mir space station was disposed of, broke up in the atmosphere before falling into the southern Pacific Ocean near Fiji.
1999 | Gunmen assassinated Paraguay’s Vice President Luis María Argaña.
ALSO READ: What happened on 22 March?
BIRTHDAYS
1949 | South African musician, Trevor Jones
1947 | South African jazz musician, Ray Phiri
1948 | German-Canadian educator and politician, Marie Malavoy.
1952 | New Zealand rugby player, Kent Lambert.
1929 | American actor, director and producer, Mark Rydell.
ON THIS DAY: DEATHS
1986 | American Orthodox Rabbi and posek, Moshe Feinstein, 91.
2022 | First female United States Secretary of State, from 1997-2001, Madeleine Albright, 85.
2002 | American soprano, Eileen Farrell, 82.
2015 | Italian director, producer, and screenwriter, Gian Vittorio Baldi, 85.
2011 | British-American actress who was considered to be one of the best actresses of classic Hollywood cinema, Elizabeth Taylor, 88.
SPORTS
1994 | On this day, Kapil Dev played his final test cricket match.
ENTERTAINMENT
1933 | Kroll Opera house was opened in Berlin on this day.
AFRICA FACT
Mauritius has been named the happiest country in Africa for six consecutive years by the World Happiness Report.
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