Today in Kimberley's History
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Something happened today in Kimberley's history, but we don't know about it yet...
Organisation of African Unity is formed and Africa Day is declared - 1963
On 25 May, 1963, the first African organisation after independence, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The organisation was founded by thirty-two countries, a further 21 states have joined gradually over the years, with South Africa becoming the 53rd member on 23 May 1994. The OAU started its operations on 13 September, 1963, when its Charter was adopted. The OAU was committed to helping bring about change and freedom to many African countries and restore dignity of African people. The 25th May, now celebrated as Africa Day, marks the beginning of a quest for the unity of the continent and for the political and economic emancipation of its people as well as co-operation among them. It is at this historic meeting that the date of Africa Freedom Day was changed from April 15th to May 25th. In 2002 the OAU was dissolved and was replaced by the African Union (AU).
On 25 May, 1963, the first African organisation after independence, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The organisation was founded by thirty-two countries, a further 21 states have joined gradually over the years, with South Africa becoming the 53rd member on 23 May 1994. The OAU started its operations on 13 September, 1963, when its Charter was adopted. The OAU was committed to helping bring about change and freedom to many African countries and restore dignity of African people. The 25th May, now celebrated as Africa Day, marks the beginning of a quest for the unity of the continent and for the political and economic emancipation of its people as well as co-operation among them. It is at this historic meeting that the date of Africa Freedom Day was changed from April 15th to May 25th. In 2002 the OAU was dissolved and was replaced by the African Union (AU).
Forced removals at the Crossroads informal settlement in Cape Town - 1986
Numerous attempts were made by the local government to clear informal dwellings at Crossroads in close proximity to the Cape Town International airport. The government’s plan was to relocate them to a new township called Khayelitsha (New home). Eviction orders were issued and when the residents refused to move, their homes were destroyed. The residents here, were originally from the Ciskei and Transkei homelands (Bantustans). The removals occurred on 25 May 1986 and June of the same year. Allegedly a notorious group of men known as ‘witdoeke’ executed the evictions by setting alight the entire area, destroying vehicles and goods.. Countless houses were destroyed leaving 6 000 homeless. It emerged the bloody fights that were prevalent in 1983, between United Democratic Front (UDF) supporters and the ‘witdoeke’ who formed an alliance with the police against the UDF supporters, precipitated the removals. Additionally the ‘witdoeke’ instigated the mounting violence in the ensuing period, carrying weapons and attacking neighbouring townships. Fearful of these unceasing attacks many escaped and fled to Khayelitsha Township.
Numerous attempts were made by the local government to clear informal dwellings at Crossroads in close proximity to the Cape Town International airport. The government’s plan was to relocate them to a new township called Khayelitsha (New home). Eviction orders were issued and when the residents refused to move, their homes were destroyed. The residents here, were originally from the Ciskei and Transkei homelands (Bantustans). The removals occurred on 25 May 1986 and June of the same year. Allegedly a notorious group of men known as ‘witdoeke’ executed the evictions by setting alight the entire area, destroying vehicles and goods.. Countless houses were destroyed leaving 6 000 homeless. It emerged the bloody fights that were prevalent in 1983, between United Democratic Front (UDF) supporters and the ‘witdoeke’ who formed an alliance with the police against the UDF supporters, precipitated the removals. Additionally the ‘witdoeke’ instigated the mounting violence in the ensuing period, carrying weapons and attacking neighbouring townships. Fearful of these unceasing attacks many escaped and fled to Khayelitsha Township.
United Nations lifts arms embargo on South Africa - 1994
Following the election of Nelson Mandela as president of the government of National Unity, the United Nations (UN) Security Council finally lifted the arms embargo in force against South Africa since 1977, opening the alarming possibility of South Africa becoming a major weapons supplier to the rest of Africa. The chief executive of the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor), the procurement agency for the South African army and the armaments industry's marketing organisation, announced that he expected South Africa to double arms exports as a result and to gain 25,000 jobs in the arms industry.
South Africa participated in several major arms exhibitions throughout the year. However, the new government stated that South Africa would contribute to the UN conventional arms registers. It announced a ban on the export of landmines and stated that South Africa would not export arms to countries that abused human rights or were divided by civil war. In November, a commission of inquiry appointed by the new government held hearings into illegal arms trading by Armscor both before and after the election. Inquiries focused on an October shipment of AK-47 rifles, supposedly bound for Lebanon, that had attempted to offload in Yemen and had been returned to South Africa. Armscor admitted that, as long as an end-user certificate was provided, it made little effort to verify the final destination of weapons. Due to outstanding criminal proceedings against Armscor in a Philadelphia court, in connection with violations of arms sanctions during the 1980s, the embargo on arms sales by the United States was still enforced after the installation of the new government.
Following the election of Nelson Mandela as president of the government of National Unity, the United Nations (UN) Security Council finally lifted the arms embargo in force against South Africa since 1977, opening the alarming possibility of South Africa becoming a major weapons supplier to the rest of Africa. The chief executive of the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor), the procurement agency for the South African army and the armaments industry's marketing organisation, announced that he expected South Africa to double arms exports as a result and to gain 25,000 jobs in the arms industry.
South Africa participated in several major arms exhibitions throughout the year. However, the new government stated that South Africa would contribute to the UN conventional arms registers. It announced a ban on the export of landmines and stated that South Africa would not export arms to countries that abused human rights or were divided by civil war. In November, a commission of inquiry appointed by the new government held hearings into illegal arms trading by Armscor both before and after the election. Inquiries focused on an October shipment of AK-47 rifles, supposedly bound for Lebanon, that had attempted to offload in Yemen and had been returned to South Africa. Armscor admitted that, as long as an end-user certificate was provided, it made little effort to verify the final destination of weapons. Due to outstanding criminal proceedings against Armscor in a Philadelphia court, in connection with violations of arms sanctions during the 1980s, the embargo on arms sales by the United States was still enforced after the installation of the new government.