On This Day: What happened on 15 December?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 15 December, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

ON THIS DAY: 15 DECEMBER

1963 | ANC Secretary-General, Walter Sisulu’s appeal to the Supreme Court after he was sentenced to 6 years in prison was denied. He was charged with attempting to remove the government. 

1985 | The ANC accepts the responsibility of the landmine that exploded in Chatsworth game farm in Musina, which killed six people.  

1986 | ANC members Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim, Mandla Maseko and Simon Dladla were captured by South African Security Forces in Swaziland and transferred to South Africa for trial.

1998 | At least 14 people died and hundreds were left injured and homeless when tornados, hailstorms, rain squalls and lightning struck in Eastern Cape.

2013 | Nelson Mandela is buried in Qunu in the Eastern Cape. The burial was attended by Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham. 

READ: On This Day: What happened on 14 December?

DEATHS

1985 | South African artist, Ruben Xulu (33)

2012 | 18th Governor of Kaduna State in Nigeria, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa (64)

2018 | President of Ethiopia, Girma Wolde-Giorgis (94)

BIRTHDAYS

1920 | Egyptian author, Gamal al-Banna

1933 | South African journalist, Donald James Woods

1956 | South African politician, Tony Leon

SPORT

2009 | Angola, Tunisia and Ivory Coast basketball teams qualify to play in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. 

ENTERTAINMENT

1997 | Spice World movie, starring the Spice Girls, premieres in the UK.

AFRICA FACT

The world’s largest frog, the goliath frog lives in Africa. They are mostly found in the central African countries of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea and can grow up to 32cm in length and weigh up to 3.25kg.