On This Day: What happened on 23 November?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 23 November, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

ON THIS DAY: 23 NOVEMBER

1974 | The Ethiopian military government also known as the Derg kills 60 former government officials in what is known as the Massacre of the Sixty

1982 | The South African government threaten Swaziland and Lesotho with sanctions if they continue to protect the ANC freedom fighters

1985 | EgyptAir Flight 648 is hijacked by gunmen while flying from Athens to Cairo. 60 people die in the raid when the plane landed

1988 | South Africa President P. W. Botha pardoned the Sharpeville Six (Reginald Sefatsa, Reid Mokoena, Moses Diniso, Theresa Ramashamole, Duma Khumalo and Francis Mokhesi) who were sentenced to death for the murder of Kuzwayo Jacob Dlamini

1996 | 125 people die when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 is hijacked and crashes into the Indian Ocean

2005 | Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is elected as the 24th Liberian president becoming the first female president of an African country

READ: On This Day: What happened on 22 November?

DEATHS

1911 | South African cricketer, Bernard Tancred

1974 | President of Ethiopia, Aman Andom

1974 | Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Aklilu Habte-Wold

1974 | Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Aman Andom

1980 | South African cricketer, Herby Wade

1996 | Kenyan photojournalist, Mohamed Amin

BIRTHDAYS

1967 | South African cricketer and coach, Gary Kirsten

1948 | Former South African minister of public enterprises; minister of justice and constitutional development, Brigitte Mabandla

1986 | South African long-distance runner, Sibusiso Nzima

1988 | South African footballer, Shane Booysen

SPORT

2004 | Springbok flank Schalk Burger wins two awards at World Rugby awards evening

2007 | The Proteas beat New Zealand in a Twenty20 match

ENTERTAINMENT

2001 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone releases in South Africa

2019 | Nadia Nakai, South Africa singer and songwriter, wins the Best Female Artist Southern Africa

AFRICA FACT

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with an estimated population of 120-140 million, while Seychelles is the least populous with about 98 000 people.