Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa, observed on December 16 yearly. The holiday marks the end of apartheid with the purpose of fostering unity and reconciliation across the country. Day of Reconciliation is meaningful for both Afrikaner and black African cultures in an attempt to create racial harmony.
The Afrikaners celebrated December 16 as the Day of the Vow before 1994, a religious holiday commemorating the Voortrekker victory at the Battle of Blood River in 1838.
December 16 is also significant for African people because militant Umkhonto we Sizwe was formed on December 16, 1961. The African National Congress (ANC) believed in non-violent resistance to the apartheid government before this day.
The following is the list of Day of Reconciliation in South Africa from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Day of Reconciliation | Dec 16, 2022 | Friday |
| Day of Reconciliation | Dec 16, 2023 | Saturday |
| Day of Reconciliation | Dec 16, 2024 | Monday |
| Day of Reconciliation | Dec 16, 2025 | Tuesday |
| Day of Reconciliation | Dec 16, 2026 | Wednesday |
Please check more public holidays in South Africa: