What happened on 7 March?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 7 March, throughout world and South African history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

ON THIS DAY: 7 MARCH

1993 | In a formal event held in the Cape Province, the 31st Battalion of the South African Defence Force (SADF) was disbanded.

2021 | In Bata, Equatorial Guinea, the 2021 Bata blasts resulted in at least 105 fatalities and 600 injuries.

1941 | The crew of the Nazi submarine U-47, one of the most effective U-boats of World War II, including Günther Prien, vanished into thin air

1967 | Sukarno’s term as president of Indonesia was cancelled by the Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat Sementara (MPRS), Indonesia’s provisional legislature.

1971 | In the Racecourse Field (now Suhrawardy Udyan) in Dhaka, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the political leader of then-East Pakistan (modern-day Bangladesh), gives his historic seventh March address.

ALSO READ: What happened on 6 March?

BIRTHDAYS

1984 | South African cricketer, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

1942 | South African philosopher and academic, John McDowell.

1988 | American football player, Larry Asante.

1945 | American journalist, Bob Herbert.

1995 | French footballer, Aboubakar Kamara.

ON THIS DAY: DEATHS

2017 | American attorney and activist, Lynne Stewart, 78.

2013 | English guitarist and songwriter, Peter Banks, 66.

2005 | American screenwriter and producer, Debra Hill,55.

2012 | Indian director and composer, Ravi, 86.

2015 | Japanese author and illustrator, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, 80.

SPORTS

1959 | Home Field saw a lot of goals on this day. In a Division 3 match, Plymouth Argyle defeated Mansfield 3-0 after the first 20 minutes. Mansfield managed to tie the score at 3-3, but the Pilgrims scored five more times in the closing 20 minutes to win 8-3. In 1958–1959, Plymouth won the first Division 3 championship.

ENTERTAINMENT

1967 | On this day, after six years of marriage, Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin formally divorced.

AFRICA FACT

There are 280 000 windmills in South Africa. These can be discovered on fields all over the nation.