Wednesday, 3 July 1946
The Cape Passive Resistance Council was formed at a mass meeting in Cape Town, attended by 1 500 people. Among the first people to volunteer were African activists. Councillor Z. Gool was elected the leader of the Resisters to join the passive resistance camp in Durban.
Saturday, 3 July 1965
Harold Strachan, former South African Air Force pilot in World War 2 and member of the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the African National Congress, was served with a restriction order in terms of the Suppression of Communism Act. At the time he had already been imprisoned for three years for conspiracy in bombing activities. He was MK’s first bomber and his diverse achievements include becoming a self-supporting art restorer, and lately, a successful author.
Thursday, 3 July 1969
Twelve Africans on trial at the Supreme Court in Grahamstown, accused of having conspired to take over a town and kill Whites, were acquitted on the charge, but were given prison sentences ranging from seven to one year’s imprisonment for being members of the illegal organisation Poqo, armed wing of the Pan African Congress and forerunner of the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (APLA). Twelve other accused were acquitted on all charges.
Tuesday, 3 July 1990
Liberian President, Samuel Kanyon Doe offered to resign in response to rebel incursions in his country. Doe was eventually kidnapped during a truce meeting, tortured and on 9 September he was executed by his kidnapers. His execution was recorded on video. Charles Taylor, who would later, face charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC), became head of the Provisional Government. In April 1980 Doe overthrew William Tolbert Jr in a bloody coup. He subsequently established, for the first time in Liberia’s history, military rule over the country.
On 26 April 2012
Taylor was found guilty by the Special Court for Sierra Leone on 11 charges of aiding and abetting the rebels who went on a bloody rampage during the decade-long war that ended in 2002 with more than 50 000 dead.
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