Day of Reconciliation, celebrated yearly since 1994
Date: 30 April, 2012
The Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa that is annually observed on 16 December. Previous to 1994, it was a national holiday commemorating the Voortrekker victory at the Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838. It was initially called Dingaan's Day and later renamed Day of the Covenant.
From 1961 onwards, the date became infused with a special significance for the Black majority of South Africa, as it coincided with the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), on 16 December 1961.
After South Africa elected its first non-racial and democratic government in 1994, the day was given a new meaning and renamed the Day of Reconciliation by Act no 36 of 1994: The Public Holidays Act, which came into effect on 1 January 1995. The purpose of the day is to foster reconciliation and national unity between the people of South Africa, consisting of diverse racial groups.
References