On This Day: What happened on 13 December?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 13 December, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

ON THIS DAY: 13 DECEMBER

1960 | When Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia visited Brazil, his Kebur Zabangna (Imperial bodyguard) attempted a coup and crowned his son Prince Asfa Wossen as Emperor.

1982 | The South African police arrest the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) eight members and its leader Eugene Terreblanche for hiding illegal weapons.

1989 | Nelson Mandela meets with South African president F.W. de Klerk to talk about the future of South Africa.

1990 | Former President of the African National Congress (ANC), Oliver Tambo, returns to South Africa after spending 30 years in exile. 

1996 | Kofi Annan, Ghanaian diplomat, was appointed the seventh UN Secretary-General.

READ: On This Day: What happened on 12 December?

DEATHS

1941 | South African politician, Simon Petros Matseke (63)

1975 | South African painter, Alexis Preller (64)

2007 | Zimbabwean lawyer and politician, Mark Partridge (85)

BIRTHDAYS

1906 | South African author, Laurens van der Post

1915 | Former Prime Minister of South Africa, B. J. Vorster

1948 | South African born-British athlete, Lillian Barbara Board

1952 | South African artist, Fikile Magadlela

1976 | Senegalese born-French politician, Rama Yade

1983 | Kenyan middle-distance runner, Janeth Jepkosgei

1989 | Kenyan middle-distance runner, Hellen Onsando Obiri

1991 | Togolese football player, Sénah Mango

SPORT

1982 | South African tennis player Johan Kriek wins the Australian Open title against Steve Denton.

ENTERTAINMENT

2013 | Beyoncé fifth album ‘Beyoncé’ released

AFRICA FACT

There are 3 000 tribes/ethnic groups in Africa and each group speaks its own language.