Friday, 30 January 1953
Socialist and labour activist Emil Solomon (Solly) Sachs left South Africa to settle in England on this date.
He stated that his position in South Africa had become untenable.
This move followed after two notices in terms of the Suppression of Communism Act (1950) had been served on him on 19 May 1952 and his arrest on two occasions during the same month.
He was sentenced to six months’ forced labour, suspended for two years, on both charges.
Sachs continued his opposition to the South African government in England.
Tuesday, 30 January 1990
Clayton Sithole was the last political activist to die in detention.
He died in John Vorster Square just 11 days before the release of former president Nelson Mandela.
At the time of his arrest, Sithole was in a relationship with Zindzi Mandela and had fathered her then three month old son.
He was found hanging by a belt and shoelaces from a water pipe in the shower. His death was ruled a suicide.
Sithole was just one of the many detainees to have died in John Vorster Square police station, in Johannesburg, Transvaal (Gauteng).
This police station gained a reputation as many detainees seemed to perish inside the building.
In none of the inquests held regarding these deaths did the blame fall on the police.
Clayton Sithole dies while detained at John Vorster Square, Johannesburg, allegedly by his own hand.
Sunday, 30 January 2005
Hundreds of representatives from leprosy non-governmental organisations converged in South Africa from 30 January to 3 February for the African Leprosy Congress.
The convention was coordinated by Wits University to discuss whether ‘A World Without Leprosy’ is a realistic and achievable goal.
One of the congress attendants, Executive Director of the Leprosy Mission South Africa, Peter Laubscher, seemed to think that this is a realistic goal, provided that people know about the treatment options available and that the stigma attached to leprosy is removed.
This day takes place annually during the last weekend in January.
30 January 1948 saw the assassination of M.K.
Gandhi (aged 78) by a radical Hindu, Nathuram Godse.
Godse is believed to have thought him too tolerant towards Muslims and to have had links to Hindu extremists Mahasabha and Narayan Apte.
These and many other Hindus held Gandhi responsible for weakening India by insisting on a payment to Pakistan.
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