1900, 17 April - Boer War: Spion Kop
Lord Roberts' criticisms of Buller and Warren, over the handling of Spion Kop, are published by the British government.
1902 17 April - Boer War: Peace negotiations
The British delegation proposes that 30 representatives from each of the two Boer republics meet in a 'national convention' at Vereeniging, Transvaal, to decide on their future.
1912, 17 April
Moroccan troops are in open revolt against French rule (initiated on 30 March).
1916, 17 April
General Jan Christiaan Smuts, in charge of British, South African and Indian troops in Kenya finally has the Germans on the run. Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck's troops (3,000 Europeans and 11,000 Askari) had heavily outnumbered the British East African Rifles.
1923, 17 April
Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, abolishes slavery.
1958, 17 April
1958 The South African National Party wins a third successive general election allowing further introductions of 'Grand Apartheid' legislation.
1963, 17 April
United Arab Republic proclaimed by Egypt, Iraq, and Syria.
1986, 17 April
Following the escalation of 'necklacing" in townships, South Africa's Apartheid government introduces the Special Offences Act No 6 of 1986 which makes it an offence to possess a tyre or similar object, or any inflammable liquid, in circumstances with could be interpreted as being intended for an offence.
1986, 17 April
Death of Bessie Amelia Head, South African novelist, short story writer and sometime social historian, in Serowe, Botswana. She had moved to Botswana in 1964 and was granted citizenship in 1979.
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