On this Day in History – 6 November

Tuesday, 6 November 1900

The South African War of 1899–1902 (also known as the Anglo-Boer War) became one of the most important events in the history of South Africa. At the height of the war, General Christiaan Rudolph de Wet was defeated at Bothaville by the British forces.
However, on 31 March 1900, three months after President Steyn appointed De Wet as field-general under General PA Cronje on the western front, De Wet dealt the British a severe blow when he defeated Brigadier-General RG Broadwood’s forces at Sannaspos near Bloemfontein. De Wet died on 23 February 1922 and was buried at the foot of the Women’s Memorial.

Thursday, 6 November 1913

During his journey to South Africa in 1893, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (also know as Mahatma Gandhi) had first-hand experience of the discrimination faced by people of colour. His response to this was the establishment of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) in 1894. Within three years of his arrival in South Africa, Gandhi had become a political leader, providing hope to many Indians who had no political rights under the dispensation of the time. In 1903, he founded a newspaper, the Indian Opinion, in which his ideas on passive resistance (otherwise referred to as Satyagraha) were spread. Some years later, an Act of Parliament was passed, obliging all Indians in the then Transvaal to carry a pass. Under Gandhi’s leadership, 3 000 Indians protested against the law by refusing to register for their passes. This became known as the 1906 Satyagraha Campaign.
By 1913, a tax known as the Indian Relief Bill had been imposed on all former indentured labourers. In protest against this, Gandhi launched a passive resistance campaign, gaining the support of thousands of mine workers. Then, while leading a march which included 127 women, 57 children and 2037 men, on 6 November 1913, Gandhi was arrested. He was released on bail, rejoined the march and was re-arrested. The Indian Relief Bill was finally scrapped.
Gandi returned to India, and through his consistent passive opposition to British rule, led his country to independence. His philosophy on passive resistance was drawn on significantly during the fight against apartheid.

Wednesday, 6 November 1991

Sam Ramsamy, president of the National Olympic Committee of South Africa (NOCSA), announced South Africa’s acceptance of an invitation to participate in the Olympic Games in Barcelona in June, 1992. He further announced that the South African team would not be singing the country’s national anthem, The Call of South Africa. Instead, they would sing the Olympic hymn, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. A new flag under which the team would compete was also unveiled. It was agreed that both hymn and new flag would be used until such time South Africa has negotiated a democratic dispensation and adopted a new anthem and flag. These decisions outraged sections of the White community, including President FW de Klerk, who announced that national symbols had nothing to do with apartheid.

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!