ON THIS DAY IN SA HISTORY

NOVEMBER 20

Today is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 41 days remaining until the end of the year.

◆ 1862 Anton van Wouw, sculptor, born

in Driebergen, the Netherlands

◆ 1917 Arthur d’Arcy (Bobby) Locke, champion golfer, born in Germiston, Transvaal

◆ 1923 Nobel Prize for Literature winner in 1991, author Nadine Gordimer, born in Springs

◆ 1932 Nicolaas (Nico) Hofmeyr, clergyman, composer and author, born in the Strand, Cape

◆ 1944 The Transvaal Indian Congress takes a stand on Fietas removals

◆ 1963 First elections to 45 seats for elected members of the Transkei Legislative Assembly

◆ 1964 Trial of SA Communist Party members begins

◆ 1969 First session of Coloured Persons’ Representative Council officially opened in Bellville and immediately takes up the question of equal pay for Coloureds for equal work ◆ 1970 Natasha Kate Sutherland, actress in the soap opera Egoli, born

◆ 1971 Jan Jacobus van der Post, SA author who lived as a boy with the San for several years, and learned their language and customs, dies

◆ 1975 Bophuthatswana Legislative Assembly concludes two-day Special Session during which it formally votes to open negotiations with SA for independence

◆ 1978 Bureau of State Security (BOSS) becomes a full portfolio of National Security under Prime Minister PW Botha, who is now also minister of defence and national security

◆ 1988 UN passes resolutions on SA

◆ 1993 John Lawrence, Winnie Mandela’s bodyguard, dies after a shoot-out in Johannesburg

◆ 2004 Pandemonium breaks out inside the Big Top Arena at Carnival City when angry boxing fans protest a dubious verdict in favour of Cassius Baloyi, defending his IBO junior lightweight belt, over Lehlohonolo Ledwaba

◆ 2005 A Pretoria biker is caught doing 284km/h on his Suzuki motorcycle on the R59