On 21 March 1960, the community of Sharpeville and Langa townships, like their fellow compatriots across the country, embarked on a march to protest against pass laws. The pass laws required all indigenous Africans over the age of 16 to carry a passbook everywhere they went. This long-standing practice served to severely restrict and control travel, dictating when, where and...
Freedom Day is the commemoration of the first democratic elections held in South Africa on 27 April 1994. These were the first post-apartheid national elections to be held in South African where anyone could vote regardless of race. Prior to this, during apartheid, racial segregation which was enforced by the ruling party, prevented any kind of inter-racial activity. It marks...
Two historical events happened on this day, 123 years apart. On 16 December 1838, Voortrekkers (members of Dutch-speaking people who migrated from the Cape Colony into the interior in order to live beyond the borders of British rule) under the leadership of Piet Retief laagered their wagons and fought a fierce battle against Zulu warriors, under the leadership of Dingaan....
Women’s Day is a South African public holiday celebrated annually on 9 August. It commemorates the 1956 march of approximately 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against the country’s pass laws that required South Africans defined as “black” (under The Population Registration Act) to carry a pass. These laws served to maintain segregation, control urbanisation, and...
Talking about money, whether your own or someone else’s, makes most people uncomfortable – either you feel you have too little of it and so feel embarrassed having such a conversation, or you may feel you have quite a bit of it and that comes with unique questions and pressures of its own. Money becomes that awkward subject we...
The media plays a massive role in how we understand and relate to any issue. Separating fact from fiction is crucial as we consider a topic that the Bible addresses in such a compelling way. “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners,...
