Historical Events:
• 1834: Slavery is abolished at the Cape.
• 1868: John D Rockefeller begins anti oil war.
• 1988: World Aids Day is internationally observed for the first time.
• 1996: South Africa officially starts celebrating World Aids Day, to be marked on the first of December each year, when the Department of Health organises National World Aids Day events in Bloemfontein and Pretoria.
• 2001: Captain Bill Compton brings Trans World Airlines Flight 220, an MD-83, into St. Louis International Airport bringing to an end 76 years of TWA operations following TWA’s purchase by American Airlines.
Arts, Music, TV:
• 1875: Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi, Xhosa poet and prose writer, and a member of the Xhosa Bible revision board, is born in Gqumahashe (Victoria East). His first collection of poems, Imihobe nemiBongo (1927) includes ‘Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika.
• 1951: Sonja Heroldt, SA singer, is born.
• 1969: The Cape Argus changes its name to The Argus.
• 1958: "Flower Drum Song" opens at St James Theater NYC for 602 performances.
• 1982: Michael Jackson releases his album "Thriller".
• 1986: Paul McCartney releases "Only Love Remains".
Sports:
• 1901: George Lohmann, cricketer (in South Africa 18 Tests, 112 wickets), dies.
• 1906: The SA rugby team beats Wales 11-0 in Swansea.
• 1941: Horace William Chapman (50), SA cricket player in two tests, dies in Durban.
• 1973: Bob Forster successfully defends his world lightweight title against SA challenger Pierre Fourie during the first-ever boxing contest between a Black and a White in SA.
• 1984: Greg Page knocks out SA Gerrie Coetzee in eight rounds for the WBA heavyweight boxing title.
Source: historyorb.com & sahistory.org.com
Compiled by: Thandi Xaba
