27 April – Freedom Day

Today, 27 April, is Freedom Day in South Africa – the equivalent of Independence Day in the US or Bastille Day in France (but peaceful-like) – when South Africans celebrate the country’s first democratic elections, which took place on 27 April 1994, and saw Nelson Mandela become the first president of the New South Africa.

Practical note on SA public holidays: banks and post offices are closed, as are many shops; and trains, buses and minibus taxis run limited services.

• Freedom day links: Wikipedia | SAHistory.org | Google News
• Africa buffs take note: 27 April has significance in Africa beyond SA’s borders; it’s also the date of independence for Morocco, Togo and Sierra Leone, and of the unionization of Tanzania.