when was freedom day first celebrated in south africa
27 April 1995
title: Freedom Day (South Africa) text: Freedom Day (South Africa) Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa celebrated on 27 April. It celebrates freedom and commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994. The elections were the first non-racial national elections where everyone of voting age of over 18 from any race group, including foreign citizens permanently resident in South Africa, were allowed to vote. Previously, under the apartheid regime, non-whites in general had only limited rights to vote while indigenous black South Africans had no voting rights whatsoever. It is part of the twelve public holidays determined by the Public title: Freedom Day (South Africa) text: beat as one, as we renew our common loyalty to our country and our commitment to its future. Freedom Day (South Africa) Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa celebrated on 27 April. It celebrates freedom and commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994. The elections were the first non-racial national elections where everyone of voting age of over 18 from any race group, including foreign citizens permanently resident in South Africa, were allowed to vote. Previously, under the apartheid regime, non-whites in general had only limited rights to vote while indigenous black South title: Freedom Day (South Africa) text: Holidays Act (No. 36 of 1994). On the first commemoration of the holiday, President Nelson Mandela addressed Parliament: As dawn ushered in this day, the 27th of April 1994, few of us could suppress the welling of emotion, as we were reminded of the terrible past from which we come as a nation; the great possibilities that we now have; and the bright future that beckons us. And so we assemble here today, and in other parts of the country, to mark a historic day in the life of our nation. Wherever South Africans are across the globe, our hearts title: Founders Day (South Africa) text: Founders Day (South Africa) Founders Day ("Afrikaans: Stigtingsdag") or Van Riebeeck's Day was a formal public holiday of the Union of South Africa and the Republic of South Africa until 1994. The holiday was established on 6 April 1952 during the Van Riebeeck Festival in honour of the 300th anniversary of the arrival of the Dutch in South Africa. Jan van Riebeeck arrived at Table Bay on 6 April 1652 as a result Cape Town was founded. From 1980, the day became known as Founders Day (Stigtingsdag). The holiday was abolished after the first universal franchise election in 1994 and title: Founders Day (South Africa) text: the subsequent new constitution. Founders Day (South Africa) Founders Day ("Afrikaans: Stigtingsdag") or Van Riebeeck's Day was a formal public holiday of the Union of South Africa and the Republic of South Africa until 1994. The holiday was established on 6 April 1952 during the Van Riebeeck Festival in honour of the 300th anniversary of the arrival of the Dutch in South Africa. Jan van Riebeeck arrived at Table Bay on 6 April 1652 as a result Cape Town was founded. From 1980, the day became known as Founders Day (Stigtingsdag). The holiday was abolished after the first universal franchise