Editing Day of Reconciliation (section)

==Date and observance==
The first time the Day of Reconciliation was celebrated as a [[public holiday]] was in 1995.<ref name=":0" /> The new government chose to represent national unity by choosing a date that had significance for "both the [[Afrikaners|Afrikaner]] and liberation struggle traditions".<ref name=":0" />

On Day of Reconciliation, cultural groups participate in [[parade]]s and various festivities take place throughout the country.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/9acbc1004af64e28b77cb72f1282c98c/Mpumalanga-Reconciliation-Day-celebrations-display-cultural-diversity- |title=Mpumalanga Reconciliation Day celebrations display cultural diversity |last=Wa Monareng |first=Motsebi |date=16 December 2015 |work=SABC |access-date=25 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026000004/http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/9acbc1004af64e28b77cb72f1282c98c/Mpumalanga-Reconciliation-Day-celebrations-display-cultural-diversity- |archive-date=26 October 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> On Day of Reconciliation 2013, a statue of [[Nelson Mandela]], the first black president of South Africa, was unveiled at the [[Union Buildings]] in [[Pretoria]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/nelson-mandela-statue-unveiled-in-south-africa-on-day-of-reconciliation-1.1595107|title=Nelson Mandela Statue Unveiled in South Africa on Day of Reconciliation|date=16 December 2013|work=CTV News|access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref> During the celebration in 2009, President [[Jacob Zuma]] honored forgotten heroes of South Africa, including inscribing around 100 dead veteran's names on the Wall of Names at [[Freedom Park (South Africa)|Freedom Park]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-214607319.html|title=Zuma homage to the 'forgotten heroes'; Tribute paid to struggle veterans at Day of Reconciliation ceremony|last=Bateman|first=Barry|date=17 December 2009|work=The Star|access-date=9 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729092310/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-214607319.html|archive-date=29 July 2017|url-status=dead|url-access=}}</ref> In 2008, the first victim of "[[necklacing]]", [[Maki Skosana]], was given a [[Headstone|tombstone]] and remembered.<ref>{{Cite news|url=|title=First Necklacing Victim Gets Day of Reconciliation Burial|date=17 December 2008|work=Cape Times|access-date=|url-access=}}</ref> For the celebration in 2001, the [[African National Congress]] (ANC) remembered the police raid that led to the [[Rivonia Trial|Rivonia trial]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12250824/|title=South Africa's ANC Old Guard Reminisce at Site of Police Raid|date=16 December 2001|work=The Index-Journal|access-date=9 July 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Some of the communities take part in a walk which also serve as a memorial to Mandela.<ref name=":5" /> Other parts of South Africa have chosen to emphasize their need for racial harmony in their communities.<ref name=":5" />

Each year has had a different theme. For example:
* 2013: Nation Building, Social Cohesion, and Reconciliation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gov.za/invitation-reconciliation-day|title=Invitation to Reconciliation Day|date=11 December 2013|website=South African Government|access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref>
* 2014: Social Cohesion, Reconciliation, and National Unity in the 20 Years of Democracy.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/day-of-reconciliation-161214.htm|title=16 December: a day to learn from the past|date=16 December 2014|website=South Africa.info|access-date=25 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205185611/http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/day-of-reconciliation-161214.htm|archive-date=5 December 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* 2015: Bridging the Divide: Building a common South African nationhood towards a national development state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gov.za/day-reconciliation-2015|title=Day of Reconciliation 2015|date=16 December 2015|website=South African Government|access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref>
*2016: Bridging The Divide Towards A Non-Racist Society.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.za/speeches/day-reconciliation-2016-23-dec-2015-0953|title=Reconciliation Day 2016|website=South African Government|access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref>
*2017: The Year of OR Tambo: Reconciliation through Radical Socio-Economic Transformation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dac.gov.za/content/message-president-jacob-zuma-national-reconciliation-day-2017|title=Message by President Jacob Zuma on National Reconciliation Day 2017|website=Department Of Arts and Culture|access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref>
*2018: The Year of Nelson Mandela and [[Albertina Sisulu]]: Liberators for Reconciliation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.za/NationalReconciliationDay2018|title=National Reconciliation Day 2018|website=South African Government|access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref>
*2019: The Year of [[Indigenous language|Indigenous Languages]]: Supporting National Reconciliation Through the Promotion, Development and Preservation of Indigenous Languages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.za/DayofReconciliation2019|title=Day of Reconciliation 2019|website=South African Government|access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref>
*2020: United In Action Against Racism, Gender-based Violence and Other Intolerances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.za/speeches/president-cyril-ramaphosa-addresses-national-day-reconciliation-16-dec-15-dec-2020-0000|title=President Cyril Ramaphosa to virtually deliver Reconciliation Day keynote address, 16 Dec|website=South African Government|access-date=2020-12-16}}</ref>
*2021: The year of [[Charlotte Maxeke]]: Promoting Reconciliation During the 25th Anniversary of the [[Constitution of South Africa|Constitution]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.za/ReconciliationMonth2021|title=Reconciliation Month 2021|website=South African Government|access-date=2022-06-14}}</ref>
*2022: National Unity, Healing, and Renewal<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-nathi-mthethwa-2022-national-reconciliation-day-16-dec-2022-0000|title=Minister Nathi Mthethwa: 2022 National Reconciliation Day|date=16 December 2022|website=South African Government|access-date=2022-06-14}}</ref>