Human Rights Day: 21 March is Human Rights Day and a public holiday. On this day in 1996, the South African Human Rights Commission was established to promote respect for human rights, along with protection, development and attainment of human rights. The organisation also monitors and assesses the observance of human rights in South Africa.

Freedom Day: this public holiday takes place on 27 April to commemorate the first democratic elections held in South Africa in 1994.

Youth Day: this is another public holiday which is observed on 16 June and was previously known as Soweto Day. On this date in 1976, around 20 thousand students from Soweto began a protest march for equal rights and civil liberties.

Nelson Mandela's Birthday: this is a special day for many people and is celebrated with parties or quiet social gatherings.

National Women’s Day: is a public holiday commemorating the time when women participated in a national march against passed laws. These laws were enforced to ensure African persons carried a document to ‘prove’ that they were allowed to enter a ‘white area’.

National Heritage Day: This relatively new public holiday is a day of creative expression, tying into the nation’s history, language and traditional cuisine. The aim is to promote South African unity and heritage. The government determines a theme for each year’s celebrations.

Arts Alive: Johannesburg’s biggest festival for the performing arts usually has an impressive line-up of performers from South Africa and abroad. The best part of the event is the Jazz on the Lake Concert, which takes place at Zoo Lake. For more information, telephone: +27 11 838 1383 or visit www.joburg.org.za/artsalive.

Soweto Festival: this festival spans over a few days in September or October. There are over 350 exhibition stands and a vast entertainment programme that combines family entertainment with choirs, gospel, fashion as well as top entertainers and sports stars.

Day of Reconciliation: this public holiday commemorates the 1838 battle between troops under the command of Dambuza (Nzobo) and the Voortrekkers. The 470 Voortrekkers had the advantage of gun powder and only 3 were wounded. However, more than 3,000 Zulus were killed during the battle. In apartheid South Africa, the day was known as Day of the Vow, as the Voortrekkers took a Vow before God that they would build a church and all their descendants would observe the day if they won the battle. The holiday was later changed to promote reconciliation and national unity.