1652, 5 April
At 2:30 pm Table Mountain is sighted from the Dommedaris, the ship carrying Jan van Riebeeck and his company.
1660, 5 April
Jan van Riebeeck is approached by the Vryburgers (Free Burgers) and prompted to initiate peace negotiations with the local Khoi-Khoi, the Kaapmans.
1881, 5 April
The Treaty of Pretoria is concluded between Britain and Boers, recognizing independence for the Zuid Afrikaansche Republick (ZAR, South African Republic). The Convention of Pretoria, which formalized the recognition of independence was not signed by the British Royal Commission and the Transvaal Trimvirate until 3 August.
1989, 5 April
The US company Air Ground Equipment Sales is the first to be indicted under the US Anti-Apartheid Act, and is fined one million dollars for importing used jet-aircraft engines form South Africa.
1900, 5 April - Boer War: Battle of Boshof
Combat-General Georges-Henri Anne Marie Victor Compte de Villebois-Mareuil, a former commander in the French Foreign Legion, makes a valiant last stand against the British at Boshof and is killed. He tried to attack the nearby railway with a force of 75 foreign volunteers and 11 burghers but was trapped by General Lord Methuen and a force of over 750 and four field-guns. De Villebois-Mareuil's men attempt to escape whilst he makes his stand but are captured.
1948, 5 April
As riots rage around Cairo, 25 civilians are killed by the Egyptian army.
1953, 5 April
Jomo Kenyatta, the supposed Mau Mau leader, is convicted and sentenced to seven years (through the use of false testimony) in Kenya. Kenyatta and five others are detained at Lodwar, a particularly remote desert army post.
1957, 5 April
A commission to monitor human rights abuses in Algeria is set up by France.
1961, 5 April
UN anti-Apartheid sanctions against South Africa are opposed by the US.
1990, 5 April
President Frank Ravele of the Venda homeland is removed by military coup and replaced as Head of State by Gabriel Ramushwana.
1999, 5 April
Libya hands over two suspects for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988. UN sanctions are lifted the following day.
