Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 4 January, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.
ON THIS DAY: 4 JANUARY
1948 | The South African flag is raised on Prince Edward Island. The Island is 1 900km southeast of Cape Town and was later on annexed by South Africa.
1953 | Hundreds of black people in Langa, Cape Town gather to protest against the new pass laws.
1969 | Spain and Morocco signed an agreement to give Sidi Ifni back to Morocco from Spain.
1978 | Daniel Arap Moi was elected President of Kenya following the death of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
1983 | The Labour Party (LP) resolve to represent the Coloured Community in parliament. The prime minister accepted the decision but other political organisations did not agree.
2018 | 20 people die and 260 injured when a Shosholoza Meyl train collides with a truck on a level crossing at Geneva Station between Hennenman and Kroonstad, Free State.
READ: On this Day: What happened on 3 January?
DEATHS
1993 | South African rugby player & coach, Danie Craven (83)
2007 | Last ceremonial State President of South Africa, Marais Viljoen (92)
2007 | Sudanese painter, Osman Waqialla (81)
BIRTHDAYS
1942 | Former Nigerian External Affairs Minister, Bolaji Akinyemi
1962 | Egyptian actress, Laila Eloui
SPORT
1997 | American tennis pair Justin Gimelstob & Chanda Rubin win the Hopman Cup after beating South African duo Wayne Ferreira & Amanda Coetzer 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.
2018 | Egyptian footballer and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is named African Football Player of the Year.
ENTERTAINMENT
1954 | Elvis Presley records his 1st demo ‘It Wouldn’t Be The Same Without You’ and ‘I’ll Never Stand In Your Way’ for Sun Records.
AFRICA FACT
Graca Machel is the first and only woman to be the first lady of two different countries (Mozambique and South Africa).