Heritage Day is one of the newly created South African public holidays.
It is a day in which all are encouraged to celebrate their cultural traditions in the wider context of the great diversity of cultures, beliefs, and traditions that make up the nation of South Africa.
The day was previously celebrated in KwaZulu-Natal where September 24 was known as Shaka Day.
Through celebrations the community of KwaZulu-Natal commemorated the life of King Shaka Zulu.
When the proposed Public Holidays Bill before the New South African Parliament omitted Shaka Day, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a South African political party with a large Zulu membership, objected to the bill.
A compromise was reached when it was decided to create a day where all South Africans could observe and celebrate their diverse cultural heritage.
In an address marking Heritage Day in 1996, former President Nelson Mandela said:
“When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation.”
- Information obtained from www.sahistory.org.za
