ON THIS DAY APRIL 18

1658 The first school in the Cape is founded six years after Van Riebeeck’s arrival.

1874 The body of David Livingstone, the explorer and missionary who died of malaria in present-day Zambia almost a year before, is buried in London’s Westminster Abbey.

1905 Death of Enoch Sontonga, composer of our national anthem, Nkosi Sikelel ‘iAfrika. 1906 An earthquake and fire kills nearly 4 000 people and destroys 75% of San Francisco. 1930 The BBC announces that “there is no news” and plays music instead.

1942 In response to the raid on Pearl Harbour, five Japanese cities are attacked by bombers brought close enough by an aircraft carrier. 1943 Armed with the knowledge of his whereabouts, US P-38 fighters shoot down the plane of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto – the architect of the attack on Pearl Harbor – over Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea. 1980 The Republic of Zimbabwe comes into being, with Canaan Banana its first president. 1983 A suicide bomber destroys the US embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 63 people. 1988 The US launches Operation Praying Mantis against Iranian naval forces in the largest naval battle since World War II.

1992 Captained by Kepler Wessels, South Africa plays its first 5-day Test match – against the West Indies. The tour by the South African cricketers marked the first official Test and One Day International match between the two teams. It was also South Africa’s first Test since being suspended in 1970 because of apartheid and their first against a non-white team.