On This Day in South Africa: What happened on 3 September?

Look at what happened on this day 3 September 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: 3 SEPTEMBER

1984 | Five Black townships in the Vaal Triangle region; Boipatong, Bophelong, Evaton, Sebokeng, and Sharpeville erupted in what some have called a “smouldering human rage.”

1989 | Twelve people died when Varig Flight 254 crashed in So José do Xingu, Brazil, in the Amazon rainforest.

2017 | The sixth and most powerful nuclear test by North Korea.

2010 | Two crew members were killed when UPS Airlines Flight 6 crashed near Nad Al Sheba after taking off from Dubai International Airport and experiencing an in-flight cargo hold fire.

2001 | In Belfast, Protestant loyalists started a picket at a Catholic primary school for girls called Holy Cross.

ALSO READ: What happened on 1 September?

BIRTHDAYS

1951 | South African sportsperson-politician, Danny Jordaan.

1964 | American screenwriter and producer, Spike Feresten.

1978 | American actor, Nick Wechsler.

1982 | South African professional footballer, Chad Harpur.

1986 | American snowboarder, skateboarder, and guitarist, Shaun White.

DEATHS

2002 | Canadian climatologist and academic, Kenneth Hare, 83.

2005 | English biologist and author, R. S. R. Fitter, 92.

2007 | English runner, Jane Tomlinson, 43.

2012 | Colombian drug lord, Griselda Blanco, 69.

2014 | Finnish singer-songwriter and pianist, Aarno Raninen, 70.

SPORTS

1989 | The match between Brazil and Chile to qualify for the World Cup was called off when Chile’s goalkeeper, Roberto Rojas, appeared to be hit by a flare that was thrown from the stands and collapsed to the ground bleeding.

ENTERTAINMENT

2017 | Steely Dan co-founder and guitarist “Walter Becker” died of esophageal cancer at 67.

AFRICA FACT

Africa’s largest textile industry, the $1.5 billion Tayal SPA complex, is located in Algeria.