On This Day: What happened on 06 July?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 06 July, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

1916 | William Brown becomes the first South African officer killed during World War I.

1967 | After Biafra gains independence from Nigeria forces, war breaks out between Nigeria and Biafra but Nigerian forces capture the provincial capital of Owerri and Biafra is forced to surrender.

1976 | Language crisis in schools resolved.

2000 | Durban Declaration is published denouncing Thabo Mbeki’s AIDS denialism.

2011 | A boat travelling to Saudi Arabia that was carrying around 200 migrants caught on fire and sank in the Red Sea, killing 197 people.

READ: On This Day: What happened on 05 July?

DEATHS

1968 | South African author, Sarah Millin (79)

1991 | Nigerian footballer, Mudashiru Lawal (37)

2020 | Nigerian lawyer and politician, Inuwa Abdulkadir (54)

2020 | South African politician and a party member of the ANC, Gordon Kegakilwe (53)

BIRTHDAYS

1937 | Zambian police officer and politician, 5th President of Zambia, Michael Sata.

1937 | Botwana novelist and historian, Bessie Head.

1977 | SA cricket player, Makhaya Ntini.

SPORT

2009 | Kenya draws with Ireland at the ICC Intercontinental Cup in Eglinton.

2010 | Egypt loses 64 – 132 to Argentina in the FIBA Under-17 World Championship.

ENTERTAINMENT

2008 | Kent Couch flew an armchair attached to balloons across the state of Oregon and landed in the neighboring state of Idaho.

AFRICA FACT

Africa has eight of the 11 major biomes and the largest-remaining populations of lion, elephant, rhinoceros, cheetah, hyena, leopard and hundreds of other species.