Youth Day is a public holiday in South Africa, observed on June 16 yearly. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the Soweto uprising, a series of protests led by black schoolchildren in South Africa that began on June 16, 1976.
In 1974, the Afrikaans Medium Decree was introduced, which forced all-black schools to use both Afrikaans and English as languages of instruction.
On June 16, 1976, students mobilized by the South African Students Movement's Action Committee started a strike protest against the government's directive. However, they were met by armed police, and many children were shot and killed. This resulted in a widespread revolt that became an uprising against the government.
The following is the list of Youth Day in South Africa from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Day | Jun 16, 2022 | Thursday |
| Youth Day | Jun 16, 2023 | Friday |
| Youth Day | Jun 16, 2024 | Sunday |
| Youth Day | Jun 16, 2025 | Monday |
| Youth Day | Jun 16, 2026 | Tuesday |
Please check more public holidays in South Africa: