On This Day in South Africa: What happened on 23 September?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 23 September, throughout world and South African history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

ON THIS DAY: 23 SEPTEMBER

1979 | Worldwide speculation began that the bright light detected in the southern Indian Ocean was a South African nuclear test.

1976 | South Africa announced its decision to allow multi-colored teams to represent the country at international events

2008 | Matti Saari killed ten people before taking his own life.

2004 | More than 3 000 people died in Haiti after Hurricane Jeanne caused floods and mudslides.

1986 | Jim Deshaies of the Houston Astros set a record, striking out the first eight batters he faced against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

1983 | Gulf Air Flight 771 was destroyed by a bomb and killed all 117 people on board.

ALSO READ: What happened on 22 September?

BIRTHDAYS 

1941 | South Africa’s lawyer, judge, and human rights activist, Navi Pillay.

1997 | South African rugby union footballer, Hacjivah Dayimani.

1947 | American actress, Mary Kay Place.

1964 | Japanese singer-songwriter, Koshi Inaba.

1947 | Canadian ice hockey player, Christian Bordeleau.

ON THIS DAY: DEATHS

2019 | Zimbabwe-born South African jazz singer, Dorothy Masuka, 84.

1970 | South African Political activist, James Sofasonke Mpanza, 81.

1988 | Hungarian-Serbian explorer and author, Tibor Sekelj, 76.

2014 |American ice hockey player and referee, Al Suomi, 101.

2003 | Russian physician and journalist, Yuri Senkevich, 66.

SPORTS

1983 | Gerrie Coetzee became the first South African boxer to win a world heavyweight title on this day.

ENTERTAINMENT

1980 | Bob Marley played the last concert of his life in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on this day.

AFRICA FACT

Half of the people affected by Ebola die in Africa