Former South African president Nelson Mandela (L) together with Albertina Sisulu, widow of anti-apartheid hero Walter Sisulu, opens The Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa as a ‘lasting and living tribute’ to Walter Sisulu at the Netcares Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg 07 Novemeber 2003. The centre offers life-saving cardiac surgery to African children through a non-profit organisation. Photo: AFP/STRINGER
On This Day: What happened on 31 July?
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.
Former South African president Nelson Mandela (L) together with Albertina Sisulu, widow of anti-apartheid hero Walter Sisulu, opens The Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa as a ‘lasting and living tribute’ to Walter Sisulu at the Netcares Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg 07 Novemeber 2003. The centre offers life-saving cardiac surgery to African children through a non-profit organisation. Photo: AFP/STRINGER
Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 31 July, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.
1879 | The first cable connection between SA and Europe is launched.
1969 | Albertina Sisulu’s banning order is renewed.
1978 | Rhodesian troops, Jet fighters and Bombers attacked Guerrilla bases in Mozambique after crossing the border as they believe they are bases used by terrorists entering Rhodesia.
2004 | The Nigerian state of Kano resumes polio vaccination.
2006 | Somalia Commercial Flights Restart After 10 Years.
READ: On This Day: What happened on 30 July?
DEATHS
1508 | Ethiopian emperor, Na’od (n/a)
2016 | South African mathematician, Seymour Papert (88)
BIRTHDAYS
1877 | South African botanist and taxonomist, Louisa Bolus.
1953 | South African cricketer and coach, Jimmy Cook.
1961 | Nigerian banker, royal, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
1975 | South African cricketer, Andrew Hall.
SPORT
2009 | Sudanese Al-hilal wins 1 – 0 against Zambian ZESCO United in the CAF Champions League group stage.
2010 | Algeria’s Othman Hadj Lazib and Egyptian Mohsen Mohamed Anani take the gold medals for the men’s 110m hurdles and hammer throw, respectively.
2010 | Tunisia’s Hamdi Dhouibi, and Nigerian Oke Tosin take gold for the men’s pole vault and triple jump, respectively.
2010 | Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba, South African Sunette Viljoen, and Ghanaian Margaret Simpson win gold in the women’s 10,000m, javelin throw and heptathlon, respectively.
ENTERTAINMENT
1964 | Ranger program: Ranger 7 sends back the first close-up photographs of the moon, with images 1,000 times clearer than anything ever seen from earth-bound telescopes.
2009 | The Luanda International Jazz Festival is launched in Luanda, Angola.
AFRICA FACT
The largest island in Africa, located in the Indian Ocean (off Africa’s East Coast) is Madagascar. It is also the fourth largest in the world.
