On This Day: What happened on 17 June?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 17 June, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

1924 | J.C. Smuts calls general elections.

1991 | South African Parliament votes to repeal the legal framework of Apartheid.

1986 | South African government censors reporters and news media during apartheid due to unrest in the townships.

2005 | Ugandan born cleric, John Sentamu, named Archbishop of York and becomes the first black person to be appointed archbishop in the Church of England.

READ: On This Day: What happened on 16 June?

DEATHS

1815 | Algerian admiral and privateer, Hamidou ben Ali (45)

1979 | Ghanaian Military head of state, Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (47)

1998 | Egyptian cleric, Muhammad Metwalli al-Sha’rawi (87)

BIRTHDAYS

1953 | First lady of South Africa, Tshepo Motsepe

1969 | Kenyan athletics competitor, Paul Kibii Tergat

1942 | Egyptian law scholar and diplomat, former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Mohamed ElBaradei

1916 | Ghanaian politician, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei

SPORT

ENTERTAINMENT

2018 | “The Incredibles 2” sets a box office record for an animated release, earning $180 million its opening weekend

AFRICA FACT

While Europe and Africa may seem far apart, they’re actually separated by less than 9 miles of water at the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Spain from Morocco.