On This Day: What happened on 15 April?
We look back on this day in history and remember the people and events that shaped the world we live in today. Every day is worth remembering.
Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 15 April, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.
1912 | The first weather forecast for the Union of South Africa was issued by A.G. Howard of the Union Weather Service in Cape Town.
1912 | The Titanic hits an iceberg and sinks in the North Atlantic. 710 of 2,227 passengers and crew survived.
1974 | Nigerian Colonel Seyni Kountché led a military coup that overthrew Hamani Diori and he appointed himself as the new president.
1986 | U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps attacked Libya using airstrikes. The attack’s code-name was Operation El Dorado Canyon.
1992 | The UN imposed sanctions on Libya due to its alleged participation in the bombing of Pan Am airliner over Lockerbie and French plane over Niger in 1988 and 1989 respectively.
READ: On This Day: What happened on 14 April?
DEATHS
2018 | Kenyan politician and activist for democracy, Kenneth Matiba (85)
2019 | Angolan football player, Quinzinho (45)
2019 | Zimbabwean MP for Lupane, Sithembile Gumbo (56)
BIRTHDAYS
1940 | South African actress, model and beauty queen, Penelope Anne Coelen
1950 | South African singer, Taliep Petersen
1962 | South African-British singer and composer, Miriam Arlene Stockley
1994 | South African Woman Grandmaster, Melissa Greeff
SPORT
1990 | South African professional golfer Gary Player wins his third PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf title by 2 shots over Chi-Chi Rodríguez.
2002 | 106th Boston Marathon: Kenyan runner Rodgers Rop wins the elite men’s race and Kenyan runner Margaret Okayo wins the women’s race.
2013 | 117th Boston Marathon: Ethiopian runner Lelisa Desisa wins the men’s race and Kenyan runner Rita Jeptoo wins the women’s race.
ENTERTAINMENT
2019 | AfriMusic Song Contest Winners – “Phakama Mbokodo” sang by Nonzwakazi from South Africa wins the Best African Language Song.
AFRICA FACT
Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa. It is a freshwater lake approximately 240 by 400 km.
