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Holiday Themes: December 16 Day of Reconciliation South Africa

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... to Zulu chief Dingaan killing an Afrikaner Piet Retief after treaty negotiations ... nation for the death of Piet Retief and the subsequent suffering. ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Holiday Themes: December 16 Day of Reconciliation South Africa


1
Holiday ThemesDecember 16 Day of
Reconciliation (South Africa)
  • Presented to the BFSA APL Caucus
  • Robert Holder
  • December 20, 2007

2
Current Practice
  • The Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in
    South Africa held annually on 16 December.
  • The intention is to foster reconciliation between
    different racial groups.
  • Celebration of cultural diversity and national
    unity
  • The holiday came into effect in 1994 after the
    end of Apartheid.

3
History
  • Before 1994, 16 December was commemorated as the
    Day of the Vow, also known as Day of the Covenant
    or Dingaan Day.
  • The Day of the Vow was a religious holiday
    commemorating the Afrikaner victory over the
    Zulus at the Battle of Blood River in 1838.

4
Battle of Blood River, 1838
  • In response to Zulu chief Dingaan killing an
    Afrikaner Piet Retief after treaty negotiations
  • 464 Afrikaners with the help of 200 helpers
    defeated 10,000 (or 20,000) Zulus
  • The Afrikaners made a vow with God that if
    victorious, they would make the day a Sabbath

5
Subsequent Reaction
  • Some saw the victory as Gods sanctioning of
    white rule in South Africa
  • Celebrations of this holiday contributed to the
    rift between the Afrikaners and the Zulu
  • On this day in 1961, the African National
    Congress military arm first attacked the
    Apartheid government, and would celebrate this
    day as the anniversary of the founding of
    Umkhonto we Sizwe

6
Reconciliation
  • After Apartheids ending in 1994, December 16 was
    changed to the Day of Reconciliation

7
Recent observances
  • At the 16 December 1998 inauguration the new
    monument.
  • Zulu politician and then Minister of Home
    Affairs, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, again apologized
    to the Afrikaner nation for the death of Piet
    Retief and the subsequent suffering.
  • Buthelezi also noted the suffering of the Zulu
    under the Afrikaner rule during apartheid. He
    stressed that South Africans needed to consider
    the day as "a new covenant which binds us to the
    shared commitment of building a new country.

8
References
  • http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Trek
  • http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weenen
  • http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_of_Blood_R
    iver
  • http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Vow
  • http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Reconciliation
  • http//www.worldeventsguide.com/event.ehtml?o2749
  • http//www.south-africa-tours-and-travel.com/battl
    e-of-blood-river.html
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