On This Day in South Africa: What happened on 25 May?

Look at what happened on this day, 25 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: 25 May

1996 | Ian Woodall and Cathy O’Dowd were the first recognised South African team to summit Mount Everest.

1997 | A military takeover in Sierra Leone saw Major Johnny Paul Koroma succeed President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

2000 | Liberation Day of Lebanon: 18 years after the invasion in 1982, Israel withdrew its forces from Lebanese territory (except from the disputed Shebaa farms zone).

2002 | China Airlines Flight 611 disintegrated in mid-air and crashed into the Taiwan Strait, with the loss of all 225 people on board.

2008 | The NASA Phoenix lander lands in the Martian Green Valley region in an effort to find habitats that are conducive to water and microbial life.

ALSO READ: What happened on 24 May?

BIRTHDAYS

1943 | South African politician, Wynand Malan.

1951 | American director, producer, and screenwriter, Bob Gale.

1955 | English lawyer and politician, Alistair Burt.

1979 | English rugby player, Jonny Wilkinson.

1995 | South African Cricketer, Kagiso Rabada.

DEATHS

1977 | Russian author, Yevgenia Ginzburg, 73.

2004 | American publisher, co-founded Farrar, Straus and Giroux Publishing Company, Roger Williams Straus, Jr., 87.

2008 | American businessman, founded Simplot, J. R. Simplot, 99.

2013 | Indian politician, Mahendra Karma, 63.

2021 | American attorney and politician, John Warner, 94.

SPORTS

2005 | On this day, Liverpool won the Champions League Final against AC Milan on penalties.

ENTERTAINMENT

2006 | Reggae singer-songwriter Desmond Dekker died of a heart attack at age 64 on this day.

AFRICA FACT

South Africa is among top 3 Africa’s largest steel producer, the other two are Egypt and Algeria.