Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 26 September, throughout world and South African history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

ON THIS DAY: 26 SEPTEMBER

2004 | Nelson Mandela was voted the greatest in a TV show among the 100 most favorite personalities in the country.

1943 | Paul Mosaka established the African Democratic Party on this day.

1984 | President Reagan opposed sanctions against South Africa

2009 | Typhoon Ketsana hit the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, killing 700 people.

2005 | PBS Kids Channel was shut down and replaced by a joint network with Comcast called Sprout.

2002 | An overcrowded Senegalese ferry, the MV Le Joola, capsized off the coast of Gambia and killed more than 1 000.

ALSO READ: What happened on 25 September?

BIRTHDAYS

1936 | Former wife of President Nelson Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela died in 2018.

1961 | South African politician, Lynne Brown.

1985 | South African-Welsh rugby union footballer, Andries Pretorius.

1941 | Jamaican-English model and actress, Martine Beswick.

1983 | American football player, D’Qwell Jackson.

ON THIS DAY: DEATHS

2012 | American actress and singer, M’el Dowd, 79.

2007 | American businessman, Bill Wirtz, 78.

1953 | Chinese painter and educator, Xu Beihong, 58.

1999 | American philanthropist, Oseola McCarty, 91.

1995 | Estonian chess player, Kalju Pitksaar, 64.

SPORTS

1990 | Dennis Bergkamp played his first international match for the Netherlands in a friendly against Italy on this day. The Netherlands lost 1-0 to Italy.

ENTERTAINMENT

2014 | “Two Night Stand” was released on this day in the United States for the first time.

AFRICA FACT

The only capital city in the world that can be explored on foot within a day is Seychelles’ capital city, Victoria.