Producers Desk

05/01/2024

05/01/2024

05/01/2024

This day in history: Mac Maharaj, Laloo Chiba, Raymond Nyanda and Andrew Masondo arrive on Robben Island prison (SAHO)

5 January 1965
On 5 January 1965, members of the African National Congress (ANC) Mac Maharaj, Laloo Chiba, Raymond Nyanda and Andrew Masondo arrived at Robben Island. They were all taken to B Section where their leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Elias Motsoaledi and Walter Sisulu among others were being kept after the Rivonia Trial. There were suspicions by Maharaj and the leadership of the ANC that Raymond Nyanda was sent to prison as a planted spy.Robben Island was used as a prison to house political prisoners and common law prisoners in the 1960s. Over the course of time, several hundred political prisoners passed though its prison doors while others died before their release. After undergoing scrutiny by political prisoners, Nyanda received news that he had 'won' his case on appeal and that his sentence was shortened. He was removed from Robben Island. Maharaj and Masondo were released in 1976. Chiba was released in December 1982

04/01/2024

𝗣𝗲𝗹𝗲́ - 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐚 & 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

▪︎Pele, is the only player in history to win three World Cups. He became an icon of the game after winning the World Cup in 1958 as a 17-year-old, netting twice in the final to defeat hosts Sweden.

▪︎Pelé’s stardom grew throughout the 1960s. Legend says the two factions of the Nigerian Civil War decided upon a 48-hour ceasefire so that they could watch Pelé during an exhibition match in Lagos.

▪︎After signing for Santos, Pelé became the leading goal scorer in the Brazilian club’s history. He also led them to the 1962 and 1963 Copa Libertadores titles.

▪︎The superstar received a number of offers from European clubs but Brazilian President Jânio Quadros declared him a national treasure making it difficult for him to ply his trade in another country.

▪︎In 1975, Pelé agreed to a $7 million contract with the New York Cosmos for a year and made the NASL a big attraction.

▪︎Pelé has two Guinness Book of World Records in his name. He is the only footballer to have won the FIFA World Cup on three occasions. The second record was for scoring the most number of career goals in football. He scored 1283 career goals in 1363 games.

▪︎Pelé has scored a record 92 hat tricks in his career.

▪︎Retirement: Pelé first announced his retirement from football in 1974 but then returned to play for New York Cosmos in 1975. He played his final exhibition game in a game between New York and Santos in October 1977, a game in which he played for both sides.

▪︎After retirement, Pelé was appointed as Minister of Sport in Brazil in 1995 and served till 1998.

▪︎He is a global ambassador for soccer and other humanitarian causes.

Rip The King Of Football.

04/01/2024

This day in history: Protest against pass laws in Langa (SAHO)

4 January 1953
Hundreds of Blacks assembled in the Langa township outside Cape Town to protest against new pass laws. Delivering a fiery speech to the crowd Dora Tamana, a member of the ANC Women's League and later a founding member of the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW), declared: "We women will never carry these passes. This is something that touches my heart. I appeal to you young Africans to come forward and fight. These passes make the road even narrower for us. We have seen unemployment, lack of accommodation and families broken because of passes. We have seen it with our men. Who will look after our children when we go to jail for a small technical offence - not having a pass

04/01/2024

This day in history: The Labour Party (LP) adopts a resolution to represent the Coloured community (SAHO)

4 January 1983
At its annual conference held in Eshowe, Natal, the Labour Party (LP) adopted a resolution stating that it seeks to represent the Coloured community in a restructured Parliament. The resolution was adopted even though the organisation rejected the racial premises on which the constitutional proposals were based. This decision was welcomed by the Prime Minister but criticized by other political organizations. Three leading members of the LP resigned immediately after the Conference

03/01/2024

This day in history: Rev Allan Hendrikse and 150 Supporters Swim at a Whites Only Beach in Port Elizabeth (SAHO)

3 January 1987
Labour Party Leader, Reverend Allan Hendrikse, who is known for voicing his disagreement with the government publicly despite being part of P W Botha's cabinet, swimed at a "Whites-only" beach in Port Elizabeth in protest against the limited reform measures introduced by the Botha regime

03/01/2024

This day in history: Millions Regain SA citizenship (SAHO)

3 January 1994
Restoration of South African citizenship, announced on 15 December 1993 by the South African parliament led by President F.W. de Klerk, became effective four months before the first South Africa non-racial polls of 27 April, 1994. More than seven million people in the former homelands, forced to accept citizenship of their various homelands, regained their South African citizenship. The Restoration and Extension of South African Citizenship Act No 196 of 1993 was part of a package agreed upon by the CODESA negotiating team

02/01/2024

02/01/2024

02/01/2024

This day in history: The four corner stones of the castle (Kasteel de Goede Hoop) at the Cape are laid (SAHO)

2 January 1666
On 2 January 1666 the four corner stones of the Castle of Good Hope (Kasteel van Goede Hoop) at the Cape were laid by Zacharias Wagenaer, Johan van Arckel, Gabbema and Lacus, the structure was completed by 1679. The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving building in South Africa. This fortification replaced a small clay and timber fort built by Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 upon establishing a maritime replenishment station at the Cape of Good Hope for the Dutch East India Company, better known as the VOC. The castle has a pentagonal plan a five-pointed star, with moat and bastions at each corner, the five bastions were called Leerdam, Buuren, Katzenellenbogen, Nassau and Oranje, In 1936 the Castle was declared a National Monument

02/01/2024

This day in history: Moses Madiba dies in Seshego, Limpopo ( SAHO)

2 January 1985
Moses Josiah Madiba, author, educationist and first Black chancellor of the University of the North, dies in Seshego, Pietersburg (now Polokwane) district. He was a protagonist of mother tongue instruction in primary schools and held the view that training of primary school teachers through medium of their mother tongue would improve the quality of teaching. This viewpoint led to criticism and political controversy. Madiba wrote several school textbooks and stories in Northern Sotho and was deputy chairman of the Lebowa Legislative Assembly

01/01/2024

This day in history: Policewomen are enlisted as full members of South African Police Force for the first time(SAHO)

1 January 1972
On 1 January 1972, for the first time in the history of the South African Police (SAP), policewomen were enlisted as 'full members of the force'. Two white women were appointed as commanders of the newly established 'women police force'. More women began their basic training at the police College in Pretoria on 1 March 1972. On the surface this looks 'progressive' but the women were still excluded from certain SAP units to the extent that a separate women's police section was instituted to deal with female related issues. This took place despite the instruction of the Public Service Commission in 1971 that there should be no discrimination between male and female members and that there should be no differential treatment of females. As a result, the women employed from 1972 onwards were initially not optimally utilized for general police functions, such as patrols and disposal functions. Women were mainly employed in the areas of victim support and administration, and were given functions such as typists, issuing of licenses for fi****ms, compiling of medical boards, etc. Only later in the 1970s and at the beginning of the 1980s were women allowed to work on patrol, under-cover and do investigative work

01/01/2024

This day in history: Indian flower seller is fined for trading in a racially restricted area (SAHO)

1 January 1970
A 17 year-old Indian flower seller was fined R24 or 60 days in prison for breaking the municipal by-laws. The young man was charged on 29 counts for resisting moving after every 20 minutes, failing to keep his goods in a vehicle and for trading in a restricted area in Rosebank. Although he was facing 29 charges, the young man was only found guilty on 12 counts and not guilty on 17. Too many wayward laws were passed in South Africa by the apartheid government, including Group Areas Act, Immorality Act, Pass Laws and many others. Under the provisions of the Group Areas Act, urban and rural areas in South Africa were divided into zones in which members of only one racial group could live. All others were to move to their designated areas

31/12/2023

31/12/2023

𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐀'𝐒 1ˢᵗ 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘 𝐓𝐎 𝐎𝐊 𝐉𝐚𝐳𝐳

Sam Mangwana, the esteemed voice of Rumba, unfolds a new chapter in his journey. Following his departure from the 𝙈𝙖𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨, his melodious life led him into the embrace of another musical monument of his time, 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗢 𝗟𝗨𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗔𝗗𝗜, and his orchestra, TP OK Jazz.

Having been a member of the Maquisards, Sam Mangwana found himself strolling the streets of Kinshasa. However, his innate resources, coupled with his vocal prowess and songwriting skills, allowed him to reinvent himself. As a free spirit, he ventured into solo recordings, enjoying noteworthy success. Yet, in the competitive orchestra scene, this solo stance seemed untenable, especially when Franco, the guitar wizard at the height of his powers, extended an invitation.

After his stint with African Fiesta in Rochereau, Mangwana found himself in competition once again, this time as a performer in Luambo's OK Jazz. A new chapter unfolded in his life.

Even before OK Jazz approached Sam in the early '70s, it appeared that Sam and Franco had known each other since Sam's early days. In 1963, two weeks after his debut with Rochereau, Franco attended Afrisa's performance. Franco and Tabu Ley, both respecting each other's talents, often attended each other's shows. After the performance, Franco approached Sam, expressing his wife's desire to speak with him.

Pauline Masuba, Franco's wife, advised Sam to stick with Rochereau, considering him a good mentor. This encounter marked Sam's initial connection with Franco. Later, during a challenging period with Rochereau, Sam decided to approach OK Jazz to explore new opportunities.

Franco, intrigued by Sam, asked about his living situation. Sam replied, "I'm in the streets." Impressed and empathetic, Franco ensured Sam received a monthly salary of 20,000 Frans to support him. Franco believed in encouraging musicians and disapproved of seeing them struggle.

After two months, Sam sensed Franco's interest and sought another chance. Franco invited him to a rehearsal, where they repeated tracks multiple times. However, Rochereau, feeling a breach of their agreement, protested to the press, leading Franco to explain the commitment among Congolese musicians.

This loyalty, initially preventing Sam's entry into OK Jazz, contributed to his missed opportunity. Following the socialist movement's expulsion decree and the Los Patchichas proposal, Sam ventured to Brazzaville in 1964.

31/12/2023

This day in history: Ex-mutineers consider resigning from the ANC (SAHO)

31 December 1989
On 31 December 1989, ex-mutineers in exile considered resigning from the African National Congress (ANC). This came after the suppression of political and cultural renewal by the ANC and the banishment of nine members of the ANC at Dakawa and Mazimbu in Tanzania on 28 December 1989. The banishment came after meetings of ANC communities at Dakawa and Mazimbu that were addressed by Chris Hani and Stanley Mabizela on 24 December 1989. In one of the meetings at Dakawa, Tanzanian Field Force had to be called in to stabilise the situation as the meeting turned chaotic. According to reports the whole of the ANC in Tanzania was filled with tension as some members were unhappy about the suppression of political and cultural renewal. Early in 1990, a group of ex-uMkhonto weSizwe(MK) cadres mysteriously returned to South Africa

30/12/2023

30/12/2023

Run-DMC (NYC, 1985)

30/12/2023

Zola Budd (also known as Zola Pieterse; born 26 May 1966) is a South African middle-distance and long-distance runner. She competed at the 1984 Olympic Games for Great Britain and the 1992 Olympic Games for South Africa, both times in the 3000 metres. In 1984 (unratified) and 1985, she broke the world record in the 5000 metres. She was also a two-time winner at the World Cross Country Championships (1985–1986).[4] Budd mainly trained and raced barefoot. Her mile best of 4:17.57 in 1985 stood as the British record for 38 years until Laura Muir ran 4:15.24 on 21 July 2023.

30/12/2023

30/12/2023

This day in history: The first edition of the Graham’s Town Journal, mouthpiece of the Eastern Frontier settlers, is published (SAHO)

30 December 1831
The Gramstown Journal, one of South Africa's important and influential early newspapers, ran from 1831- 1920. From its early days its editorial slant voiced the interests of English settlers in the Eastern Cape. The paper was also obliged to print government announcements and proclamations to its readership. As a result the paper was known as 'Settlers' Bible" from at least the 1860s, a title that still holds in the popular memory. The paper was bought out in 1870 by Thomas Henry Grocott, founder of Grahmstown's Grocott's Mail, but continued to publish under it's own masthead until 1920. The Grocott family began publication of Grocott's Mail in 1870, and completely incorporated the publication of the Grahmstown Journal in the Grocott Mail by 1919. Today, the Grocott's Mail is the only newspaper that is published in Grahamstown, home city of Rhodes University. The Grocott's Mail remains the oldest surviving independent newspaper in South Africa. The paper was recently acquired by Rhodes University, and is used to train journalists by its Department of Journalism and Media Studies. Still, its new owners are determined that it remains a community paper and not become a university mouthpiece or student newspaper

30/12/2023

This day in history: Adam Kok III is killed in an accident (SAHO)

30 December 1875
Adam Kok III, founder and chief of Griqualand East, was killed in an accident when he fell from his buggy. The Cape Colonial government unilaterally annexed Griqualand East in 1874 as result of disturbances in that region; they relieved Kok of his duties as chief and granted him an annual pension. The accident happened a year after he had been deposed. There is some controversy about the exact date of his death, as another source gives the date as 31 December 1875. He is revered by the Griqua people of the present day as the greatest of the Kok chiefs