Heritage Day 2025

Avuxeni, Minjani? Umfekile Minjane! Welcome to a special celebration. Wednesday 24th September is Heritage Day in South Africa. Here is a bit of history to the day. In KwaZulu Natal ( a province in South Africa), 24 September was known as Shaka Day for most people, in commemoration of Shaka, the Zulu King of Southern Africa, on the presumed date of his death in 1828. Shaka played an important role in uniting the disparate Nguni clans into a cohesive Zulu nation. Each year people gather at the Shaka Memorial to honour him on this day. The Public Holidays Bill presented to the post- Apartheid Government in 1994 did not include 24 September on the list of proposed public holidays. As a result of this exclusion, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a South African political party with a large Zulu membership, objected to the bill. Parliament and the African National Congress (ANC) reached a compromise, and the day was given its present title and accepted as a public holiday now known as Heritage Day. Heritage Day is when South Africans celebrate the diverse cultural heritage that makes up the "Rainbow Nation". It is the day to celebrate the contribution of all South Africans to the building of the country, but for KTD196, we gathered some of our kids together, and played traditional games, had traditional dancing, and traditional foods. We ate cow heels, tripe, mopani worms, chickens’ feet, all sorts of pap and samp (maize derivatives), morogko (a green spinach type weed with crushed peanuts), and what was great was my staff all gave money and cooked the meals. The kids got to eat for free. It was a day of sensory overload, with loud music, bright colours, and amazing smells and tastes, plus being surrounded and loved on by over 320 kids. We thought that a 100 might come but WOWEEEEEE!! Every child wanting a hug or a photo with the mulungu (white lady). It was stunning. I hope you enjoy the photos and video of the day. What blessed my soul was one young man around 12yrs of age, asked me if I was the boss of KTD196, he was knew to the program, and he THANKED ME FOR MY LEADERSHIP!!!! I was floored and to be honest my eyes started to leak a little bit. What a special thing to say especially so young. Anyway, please watch the YouTube video and enjoy the celebrations. You are such a big part of all we do, your support bring such joy to the children, thank you for being such an important part of what we achieve. God Bless you Louise