In 1963, Nelson Mandela arrived on Robben Island to serve his five-year sentence. Image: Wikimedia Commons
On This Day in South Africa: What happened on 27 May?
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 1963, Nelson Mandela arrived on Robben Island to serve his five-year sentence. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Look at what happened on this day, 27 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: 27 May
1963 | Nelson Mandela arrived on Robben Island to serve his five-year sentence.
1967 | Jacqueline Kennedy and her daughter Caroline launched the USS John F. Kennedy, an aircraft carrier for the US Navy.
1988 | Somaliland War of Independence: In Hargeisa and Burao, then the country’s second and third largest cities, the Somali National Movement launched a significant offensive against Somali government forces.
2001 | Twenty hostages were taken by members of the Islamist rebel organisation Abu Sayyaf from a luxurious island resort in Palawan in the Philippines; the hostage situation did not end until June 2002.
2017 | Andrew Scheer succeeded Rona Ambrose as head of the Canadian Conservative Party.
ALSO READ: What happened on 25 May?
BIRTHDAYS
1966 | English chef and author, Heston Blumenthal.
1971 | South African tennis player, Grant Stafford.
1975 | South African singer, ZP Theart.
1977 | Algerian high jumper, Abderrahmane Hammad,
1987 | Turkish basketball player, Bora Paçun.
DEATHS
2000 | Polish engineer and pilot, Kazimierz Leski, 88.
2003 | Italian composer and educator, Luciano Berio, 78.
2006 | American football player, Craig Heyward, 40.
2013 | English actor, Bill Pertwee, 87.
2020 | American playwright, public health advocate and LGBT rights activist, Larry Kramer, 85.
SPORTS
2013 | On this day, Crystal Palace secure Premier League return after beating Watford.
ENTERTAINMEN
2017 | Gregg Allman of “The Allman Brothers Band” died on this day at age 69 after a battle with liver cancer.
AFRICA FACT
In 2021, South Africa overtook Ghana to become Africa’s largest producer of gold.
