What Is The Day Of Reconciliation?
The Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa held annually on 16 December. The holiday came into effect in 1995 after the end of apartheid, with the intention of fostering reconciliation and national unity for the country. The date was chosen because it was significant to both Afrikaner and black African cultures.
The government chose a meaningful date for both ethnic groups because they recognised the need for racial harmony. The celebration of the Day of Reconciliation can take the form of remembering past history, recognising veteran’s contributions, marching, and other festivities.
The Origins Of The Celebration
The origins of the celebration for the Afrikaners goes back to the Day of the Vow, celebrated in commemoration of the Voortrekker victory over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838.
For African people, the date has been significant as one of both peaceful protests against racial injustice and of the founding of the more militant Umkhonto we Sizwe by the African National Congress(ANC) on 16 December 1961. Nelson Mandela and the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission chose a day that was special to both ethnic groups in the country in order to work on healing the damage done by apartheid.
How Is The Day Of Reconciliation Remembered In South Africa
The first time the Day of Reconciliation was celebrated as a public holiday was in 1995.The new government chose to represent national unity by choosing a date that had significance for “both the Afrikaner and liberation struggle traditions”.
On Day of Reconciliation, cultural groups participate in parades and various festivities take place throughout the country.On Day of Reconciliation 2013, a statue of Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa, was unveiled at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.During the celebration in 2009, President Jacob Zuma honored forgotten heroes of South Africa, including inscribing around 100 dead veteran’s names on the Wall of Names at Freedom Park.
In 2008, the first victim of “necklacing,” Maki Skosana, was given a tombstone and remembered.For the celebration in 2001, the African National Congress (ANC) remembered the police raid that led to the Rivonia trial.Some of the communities take part in a walk which also serve as a memorial to Mandela.Other parts of South Africa have chosen to emphasize their need for racial harmony in their communities.
Each year has had a different theme. For example:
- 2013: Nation Building, Social Cohesion, and Reconciliation.
- 2014: Social Cohesion, Reconciliation, and National Unity in the 20 Years of Democracy.
- 2015: Bridging the Divide: Building a common South African nationhood towards a national development state.
- 2016: Bridging The Divide Towards A Non-Racist Society.
- 2017: The Year of OR Tambo: Reconciliation through Radical Socio-Economic Transformation.
- 2018: The Year of Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu: Liberators for Reconciliation.
- 2019: The Year of Indigenous Languages: Supporting National Reconciliation Through the Promotion, Development and Preservation of Indigenous Languages.
- 2020: United In Action Against Racism, Gender-based Violence and Other Intolerances.
- 2021: The year of Charlotte Maxeke: Promoting Reconciliation During the 25th Anniversary of the Constitution.
Day of Reconciliation
The holiday is also used to celebrate minority cultural groups in South Africa, such as the San people.South African President, Jacob Zuma, in 2009, also stressed that the holiday was meant to also promote “non-sexism.”
It is the first of four public holidays observed at the height of the Southern Hemisphere summer, along with Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill and New Year’s Day. Many small businesses close down and employees go on leave over this period.
