Friday, 11 September 1896
In reaction to an inquiry, officials in Pretoria replied that Johannesburg was named after Johann Friedrich Bernhard Rissik and Christiaan Johannes Joubert – the only document dealing directly with the origin of the city’s name. Some controversy exists concerning the origin of the name Johannesburg, as several men bearing the name Johann(es) occupied positions of authority in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR or Transvaal Republic) or were involved in events leading to the founding of the town. Rissik was a principal clerk attached to the office of the surveyor-general of the ZAR, while Joubert was a member of the Volksraad and head of the government’s office of mines. It was on the recommendation of these two men that the land involved was declared a public gold-field, while they also suggested the town to be laid out either on the farm Randjeslaagte (Randjieslaagte) or a section of the farm Doornfontein. Government authorities decided on the former place. Other evidence, notably a letter from the deputy secretary of foreign affairs to the Swiss consul, dated 18 February 1896, substantiates the claim that the town was named after these two men.
Thursday, 11 September 1902
Sixty-one Xhosa-speaking workers, under the leadership of their Headman known as One O’clock, went on strike at the Brakpan Electric Works. The workers marched to Boksburg where they demanded that they air their grievances before the magistrate. The workers complained about their poor living conditions in compounds and the harsh conditions under which they had to work. In particular they complained about beatings that they received at the hands of the resident engineer, who regularly sjambokked workers. The magistrate responded by accusing the workers of falsely accusing their employers of ill treatment in order to get a discharge and find employment elsewhere. They were sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour for falsely accusing their employer and engaging in strike action.
Tuesday, 11 September 1928
Afrikaans is one of the eleven official languages spoken in South Africa. It is a derivative of the Dutch, language spoken by settlers who arrived in the Cape in the 17th century. Modern Afrikaans contains mainly Dutch with influences from Cape Malay, Portuguese, English and indigenous languages. On 11 September 1928, it was used for the first time in an international document with the signing of the Convention of Mozambique in Pretoria.
The language’s close link with the apartheid government has meant that it has inherited the legacy of being the oppressor’s language. The apartheid government constantly asserted the language as the dominant official language. Black people rejected the language as a medium of education in 1976, which led to the Soweto’s student uprising.
Thursday, 11 September 1980
Following an international campaign led by international bodies such as the United Nations, Organisation of African Unity (now AU), Non-Align Movement, and non-governmental organisations in South Africa, the Bloemfontein Appeal Court commuted James Mange’s death sentence on a charge of high treason to 20 years’ imprisonment. The African National Congress (ANC) applauded the achievements of this international campaign. In a statement issued by its Secretary General, Alfred Nzo, the ANC called for the same solidarity to demand the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners.
Tuesday, 11 September 1990
In a bid to avert further hiccups in its talks with the African National Congress (ANC), the government released seven ANC members from prison. A further 14 security prisoners were released on September 27 in partial fulfilment of the terms set out in the Pretoria Minute of 6 August, 1990. Henceforth a further 30 people were granted immunity from prosecution.
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