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...
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...
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...
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,...
Heritage Day is meant to be a joyous occasion celebrating all that’s beautiful about South Africa’s diversity. Heritage can include: culture, wildlife, monuments, artwork, literature, music, languages and culinary traditions to name a few. There is great beauty in diverse people celebrating what makes them unique, yet united. This day had a few name changes in its history: Shaka Zulu day...
The uprising that began in Soweto and spread countrywide profoundly changed the socio-political landscape in South Africa. On 16 June 1976 between 3000 and 10 000 students mobilised by the South African Students Movement's Action Committee marched peacefully to demonstrate and protest. Events that triggered the uprising can be traced back to policies of the Apartheid government that...
