In 2005, South African President Thabo Mbeki congratulated Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for making history as the first female president in post-war Africa. Image: Wikimedia Commons
On This Day in South Africa: What happened on 24 November?
We look back on this day in history and remember the people and events that shaped the world we live in today.
In 2005, South African President Thabo Mbeki congratulated Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for making history as the first female president in post-war Africa. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 24 November, throughout world and South African history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.
ON THIS DAY: 24 NOVEMBER
1983 | Carl Niehaus was sentenced to 15 years in prison for high treason for secretly being a member of the ANC.
2005 | South African President Thabo Mbeki congratulated Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for making history as the first female president in post-war Africa.
2016 | The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia People’s Army signed a revised peace agreement, ending the country’s more than 50-year civil war.
2015 | A terrorist attack in a hotel in Al-Arish, Egypt, killed at least seven people and injured 12 others
2015 | A Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 fighter jet was shot down by the Turkish Air Force on the Syrian-Turkish border, killing one of the two pilots; a Russian marine was also killed during the ensuing rescue effort.
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BIRTHDAYS
1989 | South African judoka, Gideon van Zyl.
1946 | South African activist who works for rural women’s rights, Sizani Ngubane died in 2020.
1958 | British photographer, Nick Knight.
1954 | English psychologist and academic, Margaret Wetherell.
1942 | English minister and politician, Andrew Stunell.
ON THIS DAY: DEATHS
1991 | Tanzanian-English singer-songwriter, lead vocalist of Queen, and producer, Freddie Mercury, 45.
2012 | Luxembourgian footballer and manager, Antoine Kohn, 79.
2014 | Mexican engineer and politician, Jorge Herrera Delgado, 53.
2016 | American actress, singer, and television personality, Florence Henderson, 82.
1991 | American drummer of KISS, Eric Carr, 41.
SPORTS
2001 | Southampton moved from The Dell to their new St Mary’s Stadium at the start of the 2001/02 season where they suffered four defeats and one draw in their first five Premier League matches.
ENTERTAINMENT
2010 | “Love & Other Drugs” was released on this day in United States theaters by 20th Century Fox.
AFRICA FACT
The largest underground lake in the world is the Dragon’s Breath Lake in Namibia.
