<P> In KwaZulu - Natal , 24 September Heritage Day was known as Shaka Day , in commemoration of the Zulu King , Shaka . Shaka was the Zulu King who played an important role in uniting disparate Zulu clans into a cohesive nation . Each year people gather at King Shaka 's grave to honour him on this day . The Public Holidays Bill presented to the new democratic Parliament of South Africa in 1995 did not have 24 September included 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 IFP reached a compromise and the day was given its present title and seen as a public holiday . </P>
<P> In KwaZulu - Natal , 24 September Heritage Day was known as Shaka Day , in commemoration of the Zulu King , Shaka . Shaka was the Zulu King who played an important role in uniting disparate Zulu clans into a cohesive nation . Each year people gather at King Shaka 's grave to honour him on this day . The Public Holidays Bill presented to the new democratic Parliament of South Africa in 1995 did not have 24 September included 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 IFP reached a compromise and the day was given its present title and seen as a public holiday . </P>
when did heritage day start in south africa
when did heritage day start in south africa
1995
1995