Essay On Heritage Day

The day of reconciliation now known as heritage day is celebraaated all over South Africa on 16 December. Regardless of race, culture and beliefs, heritage day promises a future that sees no colour and a future with no discrimination where all South Africans black or white come together as one.

On the 16 of December 1838 a bloody war broke out between the Zulus and the vootrekkers. The voortrekkers, a group of Afrikaaners moved inland to escape the colonisation of the British, they moved on to land that was claimed by the Zulus. Piet Retief the voortrekker leader went to chief Dingaan, the Zulu chief to negotiate for the land but the Zulu chief misunderstood Retief’s intentions. Dingaan planned an ambush which they killed Retief and his party. Later the strong Zulu army was defeated by the voortekkers because they had the advantage of gunpowder. More than 3 000 Zulus were killed during the battle
A few years later on the 16 of December 1961 Umkhonto we Sizwe [military wing of ANC] planned a peaceful protest against apartheid but many

The changes that were made to heritage day have helped many South Africans heal from the past events that took place in the past because they were able to embrace and except people of different races but also helped people to embrace themselves. The changes to this holiday allowed young people to learn about their culture and where they come from. Young people can learn about the counties history by the changes that were made, but some people have still not healed because they believe although names were changed, people’s attitude towards people with different races did not change. I believe the changes made to the day of reconciliation did help to heal the nation from the past because all the changes that were made were in consideration of every South African regardless of their race, culture, colour or