• 1907: Houdini escapes from chains underwater at Aquatic Park in 57 sec
• 1875: John Buchan, English author who was also interested in citrus farming in SA, is born in Scotland.
• 1915: Dr John Wood (84), botanist and collector of plants, is born in Durban.
• 1966: South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) begins armed struggle against S.A. occupation of Namibia.
• 1997: Former SA President F.W. de Klerk resigns as the head of the National Party and leaves politics.

• 1938: David Maphugumzana Sibeko, insurance agent, journalist and politician, is born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg.
• 2006: The SABC reports that former apartheid minister of law and order Adriaan Vlok has apologised to the director-general of the Presidency, Reverend Frank Chikane, for the atrocities committed by police under his command. Vlok washed Chikane's feet, to show his humility and repentance at a meeting which allegedly took place on 1 August.
• 1980: Pete Comita replaces Tom Peterson as bassist of Cheap Trick.
• 1933: The SA rugby team beats Australia 11-0 in Port Elizabeth to lead 3-1 in the series, with the last test still to be played.
• 1985: Athlete Zola Budd breaks the world 5 000m record.
• 1989: A SA rugby team beats a World team 29-19 in Cape Town.
• 1995: Gary Murray, SA welterweight, wins the World Boxing Union (WBU) world champion title.












Source: historyorb.com & sahistory.org.com
Compiled by: Thandi Xaba