On This Day: What happened on 12 June?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 12 June, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

1948 | Anton Rupert founded Rembrandt Tobacco Corporation in South Africa.

1964 | Nelson Mandela, Denis Goldberg, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Andrew Mlangeni, Elias Motsoaledi and Walter Sisulu were sentenced to life in prison for high treason in South Africa

1987 | Jean-Bédel Bokassa, the former emperor of the Central African Republic was sentenced to death for murder and embezzlement of public funds.

2015 | Zimbabwe Reserve bank discards the local currency due to hyperinflation. The exchange rate was US$1 for 35 quadrillion Zimbabwean dollars.

READ: On This Day: What happened on 10 June?

DEATHS

1980 | South African-English businessman, Billy Butlin (80) 

2014 | Algerian football player, Nabil Hemani (34)

2014 | South African-English author and critic, Dan Jacobson (84)

2020 | Cameroonian singer-songwriter, Claude Ndam (65)

BIRTHDAYS

1932 | South African soprano and producer, Mimi Coertse 

1932 | Ethiopian long-distance runner, Mamo Wolde

1976 | Zimbabwean cricket player, Ray Price 

1983 | South African rugby player, Bryan Habana

SPORT

2004 | Rugby first Test – South Africa defeated Ireland 37-17 at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein.

2010 | South Africa lead the 1st Test series against West Indies in Jamaica by 405 runs with 8 wickets remaining

ENTERTAINMENT

1997 | Batman and Robin starring George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris O’Donnell premiere.
2007 | Transformers first film starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox is released.

AFRICA FACT

Women from the Mursi tribe in Ethiopia pierce their lips and wear plates that are 8cm to 20cm in diameter, inside them (lips) to symbolise fertility and eligibility for marriage.