Heritage Day or National Braai Day?
Today is the day that most South Africans will be braaing all day long and what perfect weather for it too! But why is today actually a public holiday? Why is it so special? It can't be just so we can spend the day outside braaing, surely not. The 24th of September used to be known as Shaka Day in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) to commemorate Shaka Zulu because it is presumed that he died on this day in 1828. Shaka Zulu was important for various reasons, most of all, and the reason for the celebration is that he united the Zulu clans into the Zulu Nation when he was alive. If you don't know anything about Shaka Zulu, time to educate yourself. In 1996, the 24th of September was not part of the full public holiday list proposed for the new post-Apartheid South Africa until the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) raised this as a concern. Instead of Shaka Day, a compromise was reached so that the title would be Heritage Day so that South Africa's rainbow nation of cultures could be celebrated...