Youth Day (Public Holiday)

South African youth remember the Soweto Riots on this significant Public Holiday

June 16th is a Public Holiday in South Africa commemorating the start of the Soweto Riots of 1976, sparked off by a government edict that all instruction in black schools would be held in Afrikaans.

The iconic picture of Hector Pieterson, a black schoolchild shot by the police in Soweto near Johannesburg during a peaceful process march, brought home the brutalities of the Apartheid regime to many people within and outside of South Africa. In the weeks that followed over 700 people - mostly youth - were killed.

Youth Day could be a conflict-ridden date, but instead it serves to remind South Africa of the importance of its youth and brings across the message that something like “the Soweto riots” should never happen again.

January
1 January - New Year's Day

March
21 March - Human Rights Day

April
22 April - Good Friday
25 April - Family Day
27 April - Freedom Day

May
1/2 May - Workers Day

June
16 June - Youth Day

August
9 August - National Women's Day

September
24 September - Heritage Day

December
16 December      - Day of Reconciliation
25 December      - Christmas Day
26/27 December - Day of Goodwill

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