Thando Sipuye Historian and social scientist DEPOLITICISING PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Is it a good idea?

Some of our holidays used to known by different names like Sharpville Day that we today call Human Rights Day. Shaka Day being the Heritage Day. December 16 is reconciliation Day. The origins of the celebration for the Afrikaners goes back to the Day of the Vow , celebrated on 16 December 1864 in commemoration of the Voortrekker victory over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River . Mkhonto we Sizwe was also formed on 16 December 1961