In 1838 Piet Retief the Voortrekker leader was killed during a ceremony by the Zulu leader Dingane. On 16 December some 10.000 Zulu troops attacked 470 Voortrekkers, but with the advantage of gun powder, warded them off. Only three Voortrekkers were wounded, but more than 3 000 Zulus were killed during the battle. The Afrikaners took a Vow before God that they that they and their descendants would observe the day as a day of thanksgiving should they be granted victory. The day of the Vow was also known as Dingaan Day
After democracy in South Africa 16 December retained its status as a public holiday, however, this time with the purpose of fostering reconciliation and national unity.
On the other side of the political spectrum, 16 December is also the anniversary of the 1961 founding of Umkhonto we Sizwe(Spear of the Nation), the armed wing of the African National Congress.
And today, 16 December 2008 is set to mark the official founding of the new political party COPE under the leadership of former Premier of Gauteng, Mbhazima Shilowa and former Minister of Defence, Mosiuoa Lekota (see earlier blog "snotklap".
As usual there are many voices such as Koos Kombuis who made his voice heard last year in a song "Reconciliation Day" the day after another singer Taliep was murdered (his wife (nogal) was found guilty this week)). I cannot state that its my type of song but today I shouldn't suppress it.
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After democracy in South Africa 16 December retained its status as a public holiday, however, this time with the purpose of fostering reconciliation and national unity.
On the other side of the political spectrum, 16 December is also the anniversary of the 1961 founding of Umkhonto we Sizwe(Spear of the Nation), the armed wing of the African National Congress.
And today, 16 December 2008 is set to mark the official founding of the new political party COPE under the leadership of former Premier of Gauteng, Mbhazima Shilowa and former Minister of Defence, Mosiuoa Lekota (see earlier blog "snotklap".
As usual there are many voices such as Koos Kombuis who made his voice heard last year in a song "Reconciliation Day" the day after another singer Taliep was murdered (his wife (nogal) was found guilty this week)). I cannot state that its my type of song but today I shouldn't suppress it.
.
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