On This Day: What happened on 16 November?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 16 November, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

ON THIS DAY: 16 NOVEMBER

1966 | Dr Syd Cywes successfully separated Siamese twins at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town. It was the first of its kind in South African medical history.

1973 | The former Director of the Christian Institute, Beyers Naude, declined to testify before the parliamentary Schlebusch Commission because it was not open to everyone

1984 | More than 2 300 Black people were arrested by police in the townships and hostels of Sebokeng in what was the biggest raid against Black people.

2005 | Politician and former mayor of the Beaufort West Local Municipality, Truman Prince, is suspended by the ANC, pending a disciplinary hearing into his conduct. He was accused of using R3 000 from the mayoral fund to pay for the bail of his friend Harry van Rooyen, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment for armed robbery. Turman was also involved in the soliciting of underage sex workers, which was caught on tape and aired on the investigative journalism show, Special Assignment.

2015 | In the Karowe mine, Botswana, the largest diamond was discovered after a century

READ: On This Day: What happened on 15 November?

DEATHS

1997 | South African cricket batsman, Headley Keith dies at the age of 70

2006 | South African cricket fast bowler, Geoff Griffin dies at the age of 67

2012 | The third Vice President of Ghana who was also an engineer, Aliu Mahama dies at the age of 66

BIRTHDAYS

1921 | Laurence Levy, Zimbabwean neurosurgeon

1930 | Chinua Achebe, Nigerian writer

1935 | English doctor and academic born in Egypt, Magdi Yacoub

1982 | South African rugby player, Jannie du Plessis

1992 | Nigerian footballer, George Akpabio

SPORT

2003 | Footballer Lionel Messi makes his first public appearance for FC Barcelona in a friendly against Porto

2003 | Footballer Lionel Messi makes his first public appearance for FC Barcelona in a friendly against Porto

2013 | Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar plays his last match against West Indies before retiring

ENTERTAINMENT

2009 | The Twilight Saga: New Moon, is released 

2010 | Prince William and Catherine Middleton announce their engagement

2018 | Nigerian pianist and songwriter, Moyorkun, releases his album The Mayor of Lagos 

2018 | Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is released in South Africa

AFRICA FACT

Lake Victoria, also known as Victoria Nyanza, is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world.