On This Day: What happened on 04 July?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 04 July, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

1879 | Anglo-Zulu War: The Zululand capital of Ulundi is captured by British troops and burned to the ground, ending the war and forcing King Cetshwayo to flee.

1913 | Fighting breaks out on the Johannesburg market square.

1961 | The United Nations committee is barred to enter South Africa.

1976 | Israeli commandos rescue 100 hostages held by pro-Palestinian hijackers at Entebbe airport in Uganda.

1979 | Ahmed Ben Bella, former president of Algeria, is released after fourteen years in prison.

1994 | Rwandan genocide: Kigali, the Rwandan capital, is captured by the Rwandan Patriotic Front, ending the genocide in the city.

READ: On This Day: What happened on 03 July?

DEATHS

2009 | Congolese poet and politician, Jean-Baptiste Tati Loutard (70)

BIRTHDAYS

1789 | Fearon Fallows, South Africa’s first Astronomer Royal at the Cape.

1874 | Eldest person in South Africa, Granny Moloko Temo.

1911 | South African born Leprosy expert, Dr Susanna Helena Kok is born.

1969 | Zimbabwean footballer and coach, Wilfred Mugeyi.

1983 | Batswana sprinter, Amantle Montsho.

SPORT

2009 | British & Irish Lions beat the Springboks 28 – 9 denying the Springboks a first series sweep in 118 years.

2010 | Zimbabwean tennis player Cara Back and Indian Leander Paes win their third Grand Slam title as a team.

2011 | Namibia loses to Ireland by 23 runs in the 1st ICC Intercontinental Cup One-Day tournament match.

2012 | Nigeria defeats Lithuania 86 – 80 in the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men.

ENTERTAINMENT

1865 | Alice in Wonderland, written by Lewis Caroll, is published for the first time.

AFRICA FACT

The Serengeti (Tanzania) hosts the world’s largest wildlife migration on Earth with over 750,000 zebras marching ahead of 1.2 million wildebeest as they cross this amazing landscape.