On this day in history 1 October

Thursday, 1 October 1829

The South African College School (SACS) was inaugurated at the Groote Kerk, giving impetus to the formation of the first school in Cape Town. The idea of establishing SACS was born in 1791 when the Dutch Commissioner-General, Jacob Abraham Uitenhage de Mist, asked for money to be set aside to improve the schools in the Cape. After the British took over Cape Colony from the Dutch, the governor of the Cape, Lord Charles Henry Somerset, gave permission for money set aside by De Mist to be used to establish SACS.

A committee met in the Groote Kerk to discuss funding and accommodation for the school. Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole approved the final plans for the school and the inauguration ceremony of SACS was held on 1 October 1829. Classes at SACS included juniors all the way up to seniors doing collegiate work. The school was located at the Weeshuis on Long Street and later moved to the Egyptian Building near Gardens in 1841.

In 1874, younger and older students were separated to further facilitate learning. Thus, SACS was split into a College and a school. The College School moved into its own building in Orange Street in 1896. By 1903 the junior college school had emerged as a distinct institution from its sister institution. With increasing enrollment the school began to experience problems in housing the students. This resulted in the expansion of facilities at the school, which were completed in 1912.

In 1952, the Junior School moved to a new site in Newlands. SACS was transformed when the University of Cape Town Act was passed in 1916 creating the University of Cape Town, although the Act came only came into force in 1918.

Friday, 1 October 1976

France confirmed the sale of two new combat submarines to South Africa to protect the oil route round the Cape in the face of escalating Soviet naval activity in the Indian Ocean. At the time, the Soviet Union was supporting anti-Apartheid movements like the African National Congress (ANC). This led to tensions between the two countries.

Mikail Gorbachev also reiterated Soviet support for the overthrow of the Apartheid government of South Africa. He pledged to continue Soviet support for political formations and states opposing South Africa. States supported by the Soviet Union included Angola, Mozambique, and Zambia.

Tuesday, 1 October 1985

The Coloured schools in Cape Town were re-opened after students and their parents embarked on a re-opening protest. The schools had been closed since 6 September by the Apartheid government. The protest resulted in a State of Emergency being declared by the security police on 26 October to restore tranquility in the area. The State of Emergency gave unlimited powers to the security forces and restricted media coverage, allowing the detention of thousands of protesters, some without trial.

Thursday, 1 October 1987

George Matanzima, brother of Kaiser Matanzima and leader of the Transkei Bantustan, was toppled by his own military forces and forced to flee from the Transkei after a bloodless coup led by Defence Force Chief Major-General Bantu Holomisa. The army denied taking part in any coup and announced that ministers who resigned were not forced to resign. Holomisa also announced that Matanzima did not run away from Transkei but was on sick leave in Port Elizabeth. The coup came about when Transkeians were anticipating a commissioned report on high-level government corruption implicating George Matanzima.

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