It was a day like no other.
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Roossenekal Named in Bloodshed 1883 Stephanus Roos is shot while on patrol in the Middelburg district, months after Kommandant Senekal was killed in the same manner. The town of Roossenekal is later named in honour of the two men.
Siege of Ladysmith Ends in Jubilation 1900 The four-month Siege of Ladysmith ends to widespread celebration across the British Empire, marking a major turning point in the Anglo-Boer War.
Rand Revolt Turns Deadly 1922 The Rand mineworkers’ revolt intensifies when three mineworkers are shot and killed outside the prison in Boksburg, escalating tensions between labour and the state.
Germany’s Democracy Dismantled 1933 German President Paul von Hindenburg, acting on Chancellor Adolf Hitler’s advice, nullifies key civil liberties, paving the way for a totalitarian one-party state.
Nylon Revolutionises the World 1935 Nylon is invented, transforming fashion and the chemical industry. Today it is ubiquitous in toothbrushes, carpets, racket and guitar strings, surgical sutures, car parts and hosiery.
Taiwan Uprising Crushed 1947 An anti-government uprising in Taiwan is violently suppressed by Chiang Kai-shek’s Republic of China government, leaving between 18 000 and 28 000 dead and marking the beginning of the White Terror.
DNA Structure Revealed 1953 Scientists James Watson and Francis Crick announce to colleagues that they have unravelled the chemical structure of DNA. The formal scientific announcement follows on April 25.
Violence in Northern Ireland 1971 A British soldier dies in Derry after his vehicle is attacked with petrol bombs. He succumbs after inhaling fire-extinguisher fumes.
Swedish Prime Minister Assassinated 1986 Sweden’s Prime Minister Olof Palme is assassinated in Stockholm. Allegations of South African involvement remain unproven.
Waco Siege Begins 1993 US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents raid David Koresh’s Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. Four agents and six Davidians die, triggering a 51-day standoff that ends in a fire killing 76 Davidians, many of them children.
Zimbabwe Farm Seizures Spark Crisis 2000 Hundreds of white-owned farms are seized in Zimbabwe in land occupations aimed at reclaiming territory said to have been taken by colonial settlers.
Rwanda Closes Illegal Churches 2018 Authorities in Rwanda shut down 700 illegal churches for excessive noise levels and failure to obtain required building permits.
White House Clash Shocks the World 2025 An extraordinary meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House ends abruptly after a heated argument before reporters, with Trump publicly belittling his guest. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s turn is said to be coming.
DAILY NEWS