This day in history

Nkosi Johnson, an HIV-positive pupil and subsequent activist for those living with the virus, passes away.[1] End Notes [1] Nkosi Johnson, https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/jun/02/guardianobituaries.aids (8 April 2017). ↵

Cecil Edwin Frans Skotnes,a muralist and graphic artist, was born on 1 June 1926 in East London, Eastern Cape. In 1946 he studied drawing under Henrich Steiner in Florence, Italy. He also attended classes at what was called Wits Technical Art School in Johannesburg. Skotnes served in the South African forces in Italy. On his return to South Africa he joined the Polly Street Art Centre in Johannesburg that led him to a lifelong career in the art world. Skotnes produced many drawings, paintings and woodcuts. He was a great inspiration to young Black artists, who he trained. The most successful series he did for his portfolios was The Assassination of Shaka and The White Monday Disaster based on text by the poet Stephen Gray.

An inquest into the death of Ernest Dipale, who had died in custody at the Johannesburg Security Police headquarters, John Vorster Square on 8 August 1982, found no-one criminally liable for his death. Dipale was arrested under the new Internal Security Act and charged with furthering the aims of a banned organisation, the African National Congress (ANC). He allegedly hung himself with a strip of blanket from a cell window three days after being detained. Dipale was the forty-seventh person to die in detention. The Internal Security Act authorised the minister of justice to detain persons considered to be a threat to the security of the state, or the maintenance of public order.

Burundi, a country located east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) gained its independence on 01 July 1962.   Formerly part of German East Africa, Burundi gained its independence under the leadership of Mwami Mwambutsa IV, a Tutsi. In 1965, a Hutu rebellion broke out, leading to brutal Tutsi retaliations. Subsequently, Mwambutsa was deposed by his son, Ntaré V, in 1966. Less than a year after he toppled his father Ntaré was overthrown in a military coup by Premier Michel Micombero, also a Tutsi.

On 1 June 1998, Ferdi Bernard was convicted for the murder of anti-Apartheid activist, David Webster. Bernard shot Webster in 1989, in front his home. Bernard was also found guilty of the attempted murder of another activist, Dullar Omar. Bernard was a former agent of the Civil Co-Operation Bureau. He was arrested on 25 charges including two of murder, two of attempted murder and various charges relating to fraudulent transactions and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. He was acquitted on a further nine charges, because of a lack of evidence.

The attacks on SASOL I, NATREF and SASOL II took place on the night of 31 May/1 June 1980 in order to coincide with Republic Day. The attack was organised by Solomon Mahlangu of the Umkhonto weSizwe Special Operations. Initial reconnaissance was undertaken during July 1979 and two teams of chosen cadres were trained in Angola for the operations. The teams were infiltrated into the country and a final reconnaissance was carried out the night before the attacks. On the night of the attack the teams gained access to the refineries by cutting through the perimeter fence. Special limpet mines with thermite were then placed on fuel tanks and the teams withdrew undetected. The limpet mines exploded and eight fuel tanks in all were destroyed causing damage estimated at R66 million. The team that attacked Sasol I and NATREF at Sasolburg remained in the country for approximately two weeks before returning to Mozambique via Swaziland. The team thatattacked Sasol II at Secunda drove to Swaziland immediately after the attack and returned to Mozambique the next morning. Nobody was killed in the attacks and but a security guard at Sasol I was injured. A movie titled 'Catch a fire' was made recently about these events, and in particular, about the life of freedom fighter Patrick Chamusso. Patrick, an employee at SASOL at the time, was arrested in the aftermath of the bombs because he was one of the last drivers to leave the area where the bomb was placed. Patrick did not play a role in this first attack. Police at the time had the power to hold people suspected of political crimes indefinitely, without access to a lawyer or family. Patrick was detained and tortured for two weeks. This experience motivated Chamusso to join the MK. He went to Maputo and approached Joe Slovo saying that he could bring the Secunda plant to a standstill and make it burn for days, because of his knowledge of the plant. Patrick went to Angola to train in explosives, and came back to Maputo to prepare for his operation. He chose to work alone, which was unusual for MK operatives. Read more of Chamusso's story. Link: MK feature Sources: (Kalley, J.A.; Schoeman, E. & Andor, L.E. (eds)(1999). Southern African Political History: a chronology of key political events from independence to mid-1997, Westport: Greenwood.) Two Sisters: Patrick's Story. MK UNIT SLEPT IN POLICE STATION BEFORE SASOL ATTACK: TRC HEARS. South African Press Association, 1998. Poster 'Catch a fire'

Ezrom Kgobokanyo Sebata Legae, South African artist, was born in Vrededorp, Johannesburg. He studied at the Polly Street Art Center and Jubilee Art Centre under Cecil Skotnes and Sydney Kumalo. When Kumalo retired in 1964, Legae became the art instructor at Jubilee Art Centre. In 1970 he was awarded a travel scholarship sponsored by United States/South Africa Leadership Exchange Programme and visited the United States America. From 1972 to 1974 he was director of the art programme at African Music and Drama Association. In 1980 and 1981 he was instructor at FUBA. Between 1966 and 1987 he exhibited numerously in SA and abroad. Sources: Sack, S. (1988). The Neglected Tradition, Johannesburg: Johannesburg Art Gallery, p. 108.

On 1 June 1773, the Jonge Thomas, a Dutch East India ship, was anchored at the mouth of the Salt River in Table Bay. In the early hours of the morning, a storm that had been raging through the night intensified and the Jonge Thomas' Captain, Barend Lameren, ordered the ship's cannon fired to warn the people on shore that they may need help. Shortly after 5 am the ship broke loose from its anchor and hit the jagged rocks of Salt River, breaking the ship in half.  The passengers and sailors on board began falling into the raging sea, and many drowned attempting to swim to shore. Approximately 30 soldiers were grouped along the nearby shoreline, but the officer in charge warned people who had gathered on shore not to go near the turbulent waters. Wolraad Woltemade, passing by on horseback, did attempt a rescue. He and his horse swam out to the wreck. As he and his horse reached the ship he threw out a rope and made for shore towing two men behind. Seven times, he rode and swam out to the ship rescuing 14 people. On his eighth trip, he and his horse were drowned when others, frantic in their efforts to be saved, grabbed hold of the animal and pulled both horse and rider under the waves. Woltemade immediately became a hero. The Dutch East India Company named a ship after him: De Held Woltemade. Later, the Union of South Africa instituted the King's Medal for Bravery (1939). In 1970, the Woltemade Decoration for Bravery was instituted as the highest civilian decoration for bravery in South Africa. This was replaced in 1988 by the Woltemade Cross for Bravery. The Woltemade Cross was discontinued in 2002, as part of the move towards establishing a new South African honours system.