Freedom Day
April 27, Sunday
Apartheid is a system of institutionalized racial segregation that existed in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. Apartheid laws divided people by race, depriving the majority of the population (Africans) of political rights, access to education, land and health care.
How Freedom Day is celebrated
Official events. The President of South Africa gives a speech dedicated to the memory of the struggle for freedom and the importance of democracy. Flag raising and national anthem ceremonies are held in major cities.
Remembrance and recognition events. Tours and lectures are organised on the history of apartheid and the struggle for human rights. Visits to museums such as the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg or Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned.
Festivals and public celebrations. Concerts, fairs and sporting events are held in different parts of the country, symbolising the unity of the nation. Thematic events are organised in schools, where young people are introduced to the history of apartheid and the struggle for freedom.