On This Day: What happened on 20 December?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 20 December, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

ON THIS DAY: 20 DECEMBER07

1963 | Alphonse Massamba-Débat elected president of Congo.

1988 | Amichand Rajbansi, South Africa’s only Indian Cabinet Minister is fired by President P.W. Botha because he misused his position. 

1988 | A petition signed by 30 000 white South Africans, was submitted to president P.W. Botha for all sports venues to be made available to all races. This was after a black student was not allowed to compete in an athletics competition at Menlo Park High School, Pretoria.

1991 | 5 000-year-old fleet of first royal boats was discovered by Egyptian and American Archaeologists near the Nile in Abydos. It is believed they were used to bury royals.

READ: On This Day: What happened on 19 December?

DEATHS

1914 | Boer War soldier & farmer, Jopie Fourie (36)

1944 | The last Khedive of Egypt and Sudan, Abbas II Helmy Bey (70)

1965 | Medical doctor and ANC leader, Arthur Elias Letele (49)

2001 | Former president of Senegal, Léopold Sédar Senghor (95)

2014 | Nigerian football player, Seriki Audu (23)

BIRTHDAYS

1947 | Former South Africa judge, Dikgang Moseneke

1961 | Egyptian singer and actor, Mohammad Fouad

1970 | Zimbabwean cricketer and coach, Grant Flower

SPORT

2010 | The Proteas win the 1st Test against India by an innings and 25 runs in Centurion.

ENTERTAINMENT

1946 | A Christmas movie ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ premieres in New York City.

1974 | The Godfather 2, starring Robert de Niro and Al Pacino is released.

AFRICA FACT

Africa is the second driest continent in the world after Australia.