Historical Events:

• 1988: Two explosions in Bisho, the Ciskei's capital, damage the Pick 'n Pay shopping centre and a garage and injure one person.
• 1941: Hitler takes complete command of German Army.
• 1972: Apollo 17 (last of Apollo Moon landing series) returns to Earth.
• 1989: The two rival movements in Zimbabwe merge under the name Zanu-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF).
• 1992: President F. W. de Klerk announces that he is either suspending or forcibly retiring 23 officers of the South African Defence Force, including two generals and four brigadiers for illegal or unauthorised activities and malpractice. He says further disciplinary action and possible criminal prosecution will follow pending the completion of the probe.
• 2012: Park Geun-hye wins the South Korean presidential election to become the nation’s first female president.

Arts, Music, TV:

• 1776: Thomas Paine published his 1st "American Crisis" essay, in which he wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls".
• 1892: Charles H. Weich, SA music critic, is born in Middelburg, Karoo.
• 1932: British Broadcasting Corp begins transmitting overseas.
• 1958: 1st radio broadcast from space (Pres Eisenhower voice "To all mankind, America's wish for Peace on Earth & Good Will to Men Everywhere").
• 1960: Frank Sinatra's 1st session with Reprise Records (Ring-A-Ding-Ding).

Sports:

• 1917: Quebec Bulldogs play their 1st professional hockey game.
• 1931: Bradman scores 112 Australia v South Africa at cricket SCG.
• 1959: 1st Liberty Bowl game-Penn State beats Alabama 7-0.
• 1970: Jon Cleveland, Fresno CA, Canadian 100m/200m swimmer (Oly-br-92, 96).
• 1997: Thulane Sugarboy Malinga, SA super middleweight, wins the World Boxing Council (WBC) title.
















Source: historyorb.com & sahistory.org.com
Compiled by: Thandi Xaba