William John Burchell 23 July 1781 – 23 March 1863 was an English explorer, naturalist, traveller, artist, and author. His thousands of plant specimens, as well as field journals from his South African expedition, are held by Kew Gardens, and his insect collection by the Oxford University Museum. Early life and education William John Burchell
The Biggar family, Alexander Harvey Biggar 29 October 1781 – 27 December 1838 and his two sons Robert (12 September 1813 – 17 April 1838) and George (20 February 1820 – 17 February 1838), were pioneer traders at Port Natal, in what was to become the Colony of Natal. Subsequent to the massacre of Retief’s delegation,
Wolraad Woltemade c.1708 – 1 June 1773 was a Cape Dutch dairy farmer, who died while rescuing sailors from the wreck of the ship De Jonge Thomas in Table Bay on 1 June 1773. The story was reported by the Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg who was in South Africa as a surgeon for the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (known in English as the Dutch East India
Louis Joshua Washkansky 12 April 1912 – 21 December 1967 was a South African man who was the recipient of the world’s first human-to-human heart transplant, and the first patient to regain consciousness following the operation. Washkansky lived for 18 days and was able to speak with his wife and reporters. Washkansky was actually the second human
The Taung Child (or Taung Baby) is the fossilised skull of a young Australopithecus africanus. It was discovered in 1924 by quarrymen working for the Northern Lime Company in Taung, South Africa. Raymond Dart described it as a new species in the journal Nature in 1925. The Taung skull is in repository at the University of Witwatersrand. Dean Falk, a specialist in brain evolution, has called it “the
Andries Tatane 22 February 1978 – 13 April 2011 was a 33-year-old South African citizen who was shot and killed by police officers during a service delivery protest in Ficksburg. Seven police officers accused of his murder and assault were acquitted in the Ficksburg Regional Court in March 2013. Contents 1Biography 2Events surrounding his
Maki Skosana c. 1961 – July 20, 1985 was a black South African woman who was burned to death and the footage broadcast live on South Africa’s state-run television. She was killed by a mob of anti-apartheid activists who suspected her of being an informant. Her horrific death by “necklacing” stunned the world and became emblematic
The Rosenkowitz Sextuplets born 11 January 1974 in South Africa were the first known set of sextuplets to survive infancy. Contents 1Biography 2See also 3References 4External links Biography Born to Susan Wilson at Mowbray Maternity Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, the sextuplets are: Baby Order Time of Birth Sex Birth Weight Name A Boy 4 lb 5 oz
Wilhelm Friedrich Ratte born 14 February 1948 the youngest son born to a South African mother and German father. He is a former member of the elite Rhodesian Special Air Service of the Rhodesian Army, and former Lieutenant Colonel in 32 Battalion, the most decorated unit in the South African Defence Force. Contents 1Early life 2Military career 3Post-military 3.1Disbandment 3.2Fort Schanskop –