Historical Events:
• 1909: Jack Penn, sculptor and one of the world’s best plastic surgeon is born.
• 1457: Oldest known exactly dated printed book (c 3 years after Gutenberg).
• 1820: First US eye hospital, the NY Eye Infirmary, opens in New York City.
• 1893: France introduces motor vehicle registration, includes a driving test.
• 1947: Pakistan gains independence from Britain.
Arts, Music, TV:
• 1907: "Ha-Tikva" adopted as official Zionist hymn.
• 1922: First "old time" musicians broadcasted on radio (Jenkins-WSB Atlanta).
• 1875: The Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners (GRA) is founded in Paarl, as a direct outcome of the efforts by Pannevis to have the Bible translated into Afrikaans. The society was founded under the motto ‘to stand for our Language, our Nation and our Country’.
• 1975: The Afrikaanse Taalmuseum, also known as the Gideon Malherbe Museum in Pastorie Avenue, Paarl,is officially opened.
Sports:
• 1936: First Olympic basketball game (Berlin).
• 1937: The SA rugby team loses the first test in Wellington against New Zealand 7-13.
• 2004: The first of the four Old Mutual Soweto Marathon Schools Challenge races takes place at Kagiso, in Soweto, with close to 1 500 children taking part from thirteen schools in the area.
• 2004: The Springboks beat the All Blacks in the Vodacom Tri-Nations match 40-26 at a packed Ellis Park, perhaps inspired by the attendance of former president Mandela.
Source: historyorb.com & sahistory.org.com
Compiled by: Thandi Xaba
