President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Photo: GCIS / Flickr
On This Day: What happened on 15 February?
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.
President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Photo: GCIS / Flickr
Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 15 February, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.
1900 | The Siege of Kimberly is lifted by the French after 123 days.
1978 | The Constitution of Zaire (the Democratic Republic of the Congo) which was publicized on 15 August 1974, is revised to provide a renewed legal basis for the government of Mobutu Sese Seko.
1986 | University of Pretoria admitted its first 20 black students.
1995 | President Nelson Mandela disclosed that he will not stand for re-election in 1999 and Thabo Mbeki was to succeed him.
2018 | Cyril Ramaphosa is sworn in as the President of South Africa.
READ: On This Day: What happened on 14 February?
DEATHS
2008 | South African actress, Ashley Callie (31)
2016 | Zambian football player and manager, Fighton Simukonda (58)
2018 | Malawian Speaker of the National Assembly, Samuel Mpasu (72)
2019 | Ethiopian aristocrat, Sara Gizaw (90)
BIRTHDAYS
1919 | Belgian-South African painter, Frans Claerhout
1965 | South African cricketer, Craig Matthews
1981 | Kenyan marathon runner, Rita Jeptoo
SPORT
1932 | Australian beat the South African cricket team by an innings and 72 runs.
1968 | South Africa is re-admitted to participate in the Olympic Games after it was banned for racial discrimination in 1964.
ENTERTAINMENT
1950 | Cinderella, Disney’s animated film is released.
2005 | YouTube is launched in the US.
AFRICA FACT
There is a Pink Lake in Senegal (officially called Lake Retba) due to the high salinity of the water, encouraging algae to grow.
