Saturday, 8 May 1875
SA painter John Thomas Baines dies in Durban at aged 54.
Baines was one of the most prolific artists who painted in South Africa in the mid-19th century.
He left England for South Africa and arrived in Cape Town on 23 November 1842.
He worked first as a painter for a cabinet-maker in Cape Town, and later as a marine and portrait painter.
Baines based himself in theEastern Cape between 1848 and 1853 and from there he undertook three journeys to the interior.
His first journey was beyond the Orange River (1848), beyond the Kei River and over the Winterberg (1849) and an attempt to reach the Okavango Swamps (1850). He became South Africa’s first official war artist and recorded the Eighth Frontier War (1850-1853).
Friday, 8 May 1925
When the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, it consisted of the Transvaal, the Orange Free State, Natal and the Cape Province.
Dutch and English were the two official languages.
However, there were attempts to gradually replace Dutch with Afrikaans.
On 23 April 1914 C.J. Langenhoven, member of the Cape Provincial Council proposed that Afrikaans should replace Dutch as the medium of instruction in all primary schools up to standard IV.
His proposal was unanimously adopted by three provinces but rejected by Natal. In 1919 the Dutch Bible was translated into Afrikaans.
On 8 May 1925, the Official Languages of the Union Act No 8 of 1925 was passed at a joint sitting of the House of Assembly and the Senate.
By this Act Dutch was replaced by Afrikaans. Both Afrikaans and English enjoyed equal status and rights.
Thursday, 8 May 1975
Former leader of South African Communist Party (SACP) Bram Fischer died of cancer at his brother Dr Paul Fischer’s house in Bloemfontein.
After news of his illness became known, liberal newspapers and political leaders embarked on an intensive campaign for his release.
As a result he was put under house arrest at his brother’s home in Bloemfontein until he passed away.
Wednesday, 8 May 1996
The adoption of the South African Constitution on 8 May 1996 was one of the turning points in the history of the struggle for democracy in South Africa.
The Constitution is considered by many as one of the most advanced in the world, with a Bill of Rights second to none.
South Africa’s Constitution was drafted by an all-inclusive constitutive assembly, which had representatives from all the major political parties and liberation organisations.
The constitutional assembly sat between May 1994 and October 1996 drafting and completing the new constitution.
The new Constitution was the embodiment of the vision of generations of anti-apartheid freedom fighters and democrats who had fought for the principle that South African belonged to all, for non racialism and for human rights.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Randfontein Herald, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
