Van Riebeeck's Day

Commemorated the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck at the Cape

What this holiday commemorates

• 1959 The Pan-Africanist Congress is established in Soweto by Robert Sobukwe. · South Africa

On this day in African history

• 1897 The Sultan of Zanzibar formally abolishes the legal status of slavery. · Tanzania
• 1921 Simon Kimbangu performs his first miracle in Nkamba, founding the Kimbanguist Church in the Belgian Congo. · Democratic Republic of the Congo
• 1994 Assassination of Rwandan and Burundian presidents triggers the Rwandan Genocide. · Rwanda
• 1995 The first genocide trials begin in Kigali for suspects involved in mass killings. · Rwanda
• 2012 The MNLA declares the independent state of Azawad in northern Mali. · Mali

Related Holidays

New Year's Day

First day of the calendar year

Human Rights Day

Commemorates the Sharpeville massacre of 1960 and the establishment of the SAHRC

Good Friday

Christian commemoration of the crucifixion