ON THIS DAY

IN SA HISTORY

OCTOBER 26

Today is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 66 days until the end of the year.

◆ The first weather service is

instituted in South Africa

◆ Birth of Richard J Goldstone, former Justice of the SA Constitutional Court

◆ Karel Schoeman, well-known Afrikaans author, born in Trompsburg, OFS

◆ Birth of George Msimang, artist ◆ UN Special Committee on Policies of Apartheid appeals for assistance to families of apartheid victims

◆ Group Areas Act No 36 commences. While in theory this was not discriminatory legislation, it was implemented in a way advantageous to whites

◆ Paramount Chief Botha Sigcau is appointed first President of Transkei as the territory gains full independence, but is not recognised outside SA

◆ Transvaal Attorney-General Jacobus Nothling announces that an inquest into Steve Biko’s death will be held, but that he would not institute criminal proceedings

◆ The Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) unanimously rejects proposals for a merger with its three sister churches in the African, coloured and Indian communities. The policy of different churches for the different peoples is reaffirmed

◆ The UN General Assembly requests Secretary-General to conduct an investigation into reports of a nuclear explosion by South Africa in Indian and South Atlantic oceans

◆ Transkei announces plans to

unban ANC and PAC

◆ PAC attends Patriotic Front

Conference

◆ Paul Olsen, curator of the Transvaal snake park at Midrand, dies after an Egyptian cobra bites him during a show

◆ Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper and captain Senzo Meyiwa shot dead by two men in Vosloorus

– Source: SA History Online, Wikipedia