On this Day in History
Learn about historic events that occured on this day in our country.
Tuesday, 20 February 1940.
Dr Abdullah Abdurahman, medical doctor and Cape community leader, died on this day at the age of 69.
Founder and leader of the anti-apartheid African People’s Organisation (APO), he was the first non-White to become a member of the Cape Town City Council (from 1905-1940).
His death raised concern within the Black, Coloured and Indian communities, as he was a well-known human rights campaigner.
The Standard and Imvo Zabantsundu(Black Opinion) hailed him as a great leader who was at all times available to address the needs of Black, Indian and Coloured communities.
Some tributes to Abdurahman also came from unexpected sources such as from General J.B.M. Hertzog and General J.C. Smuts.
In June 1999, President Nelson Mandela honoured Abdurahman by awarding him the Order for Meritorious Service: Class I (Gold).
Monday, 20 February 1950
The Population Registration Bill was read for the first time in Parliament.
The Bill was a cornerstone of the Apartheid policy as it recognised three race classifications, namely Whites, Coloureds and Natives (Blacks).
Indians were initially classified as Coloureds until a fourth racial group was added later.
An office of race classification was set up to oversee the classification process.
The Population Registration Act (No. 30 of 1950), promulgated on 7 July 1950, made the Group Areas, Immorality and Mixed Marriages Acts possible.
Friday, 20 February 1970.
On 20 February 1970, the Springbok rugby team was presented with the State President Sports Award.
The event took place in the Lady Ann Barnard Room at the Castle, presented by the State President J.J. Fouche.
It is significant that the award was made at the time when South Africa was barred from taking part in international sports competitions, including rugby.
The Award was handed to Corrie Bornman, Springboks’ team manager.
It was in the form of a medal framed with a certificate.
The Award was then taken to South African Rugby Board (SARB) headquaters to be displayed.
It was presented to the team in recognition of the dignified, sportsmanlike and disciplined manner in which the players conducted themselves.
At that time, the Minister of Sport was Frank Woring.
It is unclear how these merits of the rugby team were determined, considering the fact that the Springboks hardly played against any international opposition.
Friday, 20 February 1981
The homeland known as Ciskei, between the Fish and the Kei River, was created between 1961 and 1982 by the then Nationalist Party Government.
This was done as part of the Government’s plan to further its programme of Apartheid by excluding the majority of Black South Africans from South Africa proper.
The Bantustans would then function as labour reserves for white South Africa.
It is estimated that over 300 000 people were forcibly removed to Ciskei between 1970 and 1982.
The establishment of the homelands also went hand in hand with a stricter enforcement of Pass laws.
Ciskei was declared a self-governing territory in 1972.
The Chief Minister of the time was Justice Mabandla.
While Botha may have announced that Ciskei would be independent on the 4 of December 1981, in reality Ciskei only became ‘independent’ from South Africa in December 1982.
Monday, 20 February 1984
Sydney Vernon Petersen, one of the prominent South African poets and educationist of the 1940s, died in Germiston.
His poetry was translated into English, Italian, Russian and German.
In 1946 Petersen published a highly acclaimed novel, As die son ondergaan (When the sun sets).
Although his profession was teaching, it was as a poet that Petersen became famous. He traveled extensively internationally as a guest speaker.
Various honours were bestowed on him during his lifetime and posthumously.
Thursday, 20 February 1992
President F.W. de Klerk announced a referendum for 17 March to establish the opinion of White voters towards his political reforms.
He introduced sweeping reforms that brought apartheid to an end.
69% of White voters voted in favor of his reforms and showed support for multiparty negotiations.
Saturday, 20 February 1993
In what was widely regarded as move to prepare the ground for the country’s first multiracial elections, President F.W. de Klerk reshuffled the cabinet.
This was to come into effect on 1 April 1993.
He reduced it in size and for the first time appointed non-White members of Parliament (MPs) to cabinet posts.
Five members retired to pave way for new ideas and young blood into the system.
The five among others were Gene Louw, Minister of Defence and Public Works, Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee, Correctional Services and Housing and Works Minister, General Magnus Malan, a former Minister of Defence who was demoted in 1991 as result of the Inkathagate scandal.
Jac Rabie and Abe Williams, both members of the House of Representatives (Coloured) were appointed Ministers of Sport and Population Development respectively, while Bhandara Ranchod, a member of the (Indian) House of Delegates, was appointed Minister of Tourism.
De Klerk indicated that he considered appointing an African Minister, but had decided that such an appointment would have proven counterproductive in the light of the forthcoming elections.
The ANC reacted by saying that the co-option of discredited and discarded figures from the existing parliament was not non-racialism and the world should not be deceived by it.
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