On This Day: What happened on 20 May?

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

1980 | South Africa signed the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources in Australia. 

1983 | 19 people are killed and 217 injured when a car bomb planted by Umkhonto we Sizwe exploded at South African Air Force (SAAF) headquarters on Church Street in Pretoria. 

1987 | Two bombs exploded at the Johannesburg magistrate’s court killing three police officers, four injured and six bystanders injured. 

2002 | Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang pledged R20 million on behalf of South Africa to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria at the World Health Assembly in Geneva.

2020 | Moeketsi Majoro was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Lesotho.

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

DEATHS

2013 | Zimbabwean Governor of Matabeleland North Province, Ambassador to Algeria, Russia and Cuba, Jevan Maseko (70) 

2015 | Nigerian actor and playwright, Femi Robinson (74)

2015 | Moroccan army general, Abdelaziz Bennani (79)

BIRTHDAYS

1942 | South African tennis player, Frew McMillan 

1952 | Cameroonian footballer and manager, Roger Milla 

1985 | Kenyan-English cyclist, Chris Froome 

1992 | Malawian-Australian swimmer, Cate Campbell

SPORT

2018 | Minister of Sport and Recreation, Tokozile Xasa supported Ashwin Willemse for walking off set after accusing Naas Botha and Nick Mallett of “undermining” him. The duo (Botha & Mallett) were accused of racist behaviour and later suspended.  

ENTERTAINMENT

2012 |  Adele’s album “21” wins at the Billboard Music Awards.

2018 | BTS became the first Korean pop boy band to perform at the Billboard Music Awards. 

AFRICA FACT

Africa straddles the equator and is the only continent to extend from the northern temperate zone to the southern temperate zoner.