Heritage Day 2015

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Today is not like any other Thursday in South Africa – it is a public holiday that is eagerly celebrated by all. It is Heritage Day.

Heritage Day is a South African public holiday celebrated on 24 September. On this day, South Africans across the continuum are encouraged to celebrate their culture and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people.

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J and T

History of Heritage Day: In KwaZulu-Natal (one of the nine provinces of South Africa), the 24th of September was formerly known as Shaka Day, in commemoration of the legendary Zulu king, King Shaka Zulu.

 

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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.

HendrickHannes

 

In an address marking Heritage Day in 1996, former President Nelson Mandela stated:

“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.”Goodman

Indeed at Vuyani Safari Lodge we have a rich diversity in cultures, all the staff at the lodge come from a different background and it is heartening to see how we embrace each other’s cultures and traditions each day. Our team consists of Shangaan, Zulu, Sotho, Afrikaans, Tsonga, Pedi and even Shona (from Zimbabwe) Today we will celebrate Heritage day, proudly South African. **Justine

KrestPhilla