What happened on 30 January?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 30 January, throughout world and South African history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

ON THIS DAY: 30 JANUARY

1990 | Clayton Sithole, the last political activist died at the John Vorster Square police station. He was found hanging by a belt and shoelaces from the water pipe in the bathroom.

2020 | The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

1979 | The Varig Boeing 707-323C freighter, operated by the same commander as Flight 820, disappeared over the Pacific Ocean 30 minutes after takeoff from Tokyo.

1969 | The last public performance of The Beatles, on the roof of Apple Records in London. “The impromptu concert” was broken up by the police.

1948 | Following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in his compound, India’s prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, announced to the nation, “The light has gone out of our lives.”

ALSO READ: What happened on 29 January?

BIRTHDAYS

1977 | South African politician, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

1930 | South African army general and Cabinet minister, Magnus Malan died in 2011.

1987 | Irish wrestler, Becky Lynch.

1943 | American baseball player and manager, Davey Johnson.

1995 | English diver, Jack Laugher.

ON THIS DAY: DEATHS

2015 | Austrian-American chemist, author, and playwright, Carl Djerassi, 92.

1926 | American actress, Barbara La Marr, 30.

2001 | French soldier and actor, Jean-Pierre Aumont, 90.

2011 | English composer and conductor, John Barry, 78.

1991 | American physicist and engineer, Nobel Prize laureate, John Bardeen, 83.

SPORTS

2022 | Joe Burrow led the Bengals to a 21-3 victory in Kansas City that was capped by GWD in OT and a historic forth interception by Evan McPherson as the defense surprisingly shut out Mahomes and KC’s top offense in the second half despite the fact that they dominated first half.

ENTERTAINMENT

2002 | Freddy Fender was released from a hospital in San Antonio, Texas, after recovering from kidney transplant surgery.

AFRICA FACT

Africans carved the world’s first large sculpture 7 000 or more years ago.