Freedom Day (South Africa) for the year 2024 is celebrated/observed on Thursday, April 27th. There are until the next observance.

South Africa celebrates Freedom Day on April 27 each year. The day serves as a reminder to South Africans of the enormous sacrifices made by individuals and nations to free them from the bonds of unjust segregation imposed by a privileged few. It reminds people of their national heroes’ struggles, notably Nelson Mandela’s. He is considered a freedom fighter not only in South Africa but around the world. It is a day that not only commemorates South Africans’ liberation from apartheid but also the restoration of their basic human rights in 1994.

📆 When is Freedom Day (South Africa)?

This year, Freedom Day (South Africa) is on April 27th. It is the 4th Thursday in April; in 2024, it is on Saturday.

Countdown to Freedom Day (South Africa)

Did you know: Property ownership was restricted to black South Africans.

You can also see all fascinating things you didn’t know about and facts about April 27, 2023.

📜 History of Freedom Day (South Africa)

Apartheid was a racial regime in South Africa that existed from 1948 to 1994. The white minority was so dominant during this time that the black majority was eclipsed in their birthplace. In practically every element of life, segregation systems were implemented. Interracial friendships and marriages, for example, were prohibited. Most social amenities were forbidden to blacks. They couldn’t live in areas that were only for White people, and they couldn’t take part in making national decisions, like voting.

Under apartheid laws, South Africans were divided into four groups: whites, blacks, coloreds, and Indians. Whites had the most advantages of any of these tribes. The remainder were denied their most fundamental rights. Between 1960 and 1983, almost three million blacks were evicted from their houses. Opposition to the apartheid system escalated into militancy in the 1970s and 1980s. The National Party administration responded by cracking down on the “rebels” and arresting them. Between the late 1980s and the early 1990s, the African National Congress (A.N.C.) engaged in discussions with the government to end apartheid. In 1991, the dictatorship began to crumble, and multiracial elections were conducted in 1994.

☑️ Freedom Day (South Africa) facts

Not supported by all whites
Apartheid was fought against by a lot of white people, including Nobel Prize winners Helen Suzman, Colin Eglin, Harry Schwarz, and Nadine Gordimer, as well as a lot of regular people who lived there.

Educational segregation
Whites possessed the greatest education system, which was exclusively for them, with no access to such facilities for blacks or mixed-race people.

Rampant police brutality
The police were violent, even opening fire on black South Africans, killing dozens and injuring many more.

Things to do on Freedom Day (South Africa)

Visit places of honor
Visiting major sites in the battle for liberty is an excellent way to commemorate the day. Robben Island is an example of such a site; it was where Mandela was imprisoned as a political prisoner. There are also museums and trips through regions significant to the anti-apartheid campaign.

Relish the moment
Freedom is defined as the ability to enjoy all of one’s rights and privileges without infringing on the rights and privileges of others. Simply sit back and enjoy the freedom you have now.

Watch struggled-related movies
The greatest way to learn about what happened during the years of segregation is to watch movies set in that era. In the story of “Sarafina,” Whoopi Goldberg narrates various anecdotes. “Invictus” tells the story of how sports brought a country that was divided after the first election closer together.

📅 Freedom Day (South Africa) Observances

YEAR DATE DAY
2023 April 27 Thursday
2024 April 27 Saturday
2025 April 27 Sunday
2026 April 27 Monday
2027 April 27 Tuesday

Explore all April holidays, including Cause and other Civic holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and fun facts about Freedom Day (South Africa). So be sure to check back soon.