Founders Day (South Africa)

Founders Day (Afrikaans: Stigtingsdag) or Jan Van Riebeeck's Day was a formal public holiday of the Union of South Africa and the Republic of South Africa until 1994.

Jan van Riebeeck arrives at Table Bay on 6 April 1652.

Background

The holiday was established on 6 April 1952 during the Van Riebeeck Festival in honour of the 300th anniversary of the arrival of the Dutch in South Africa. Jan van Riebeeck arrived at Table Bay on 6 April 1652 as a result Cape Town was founded. From 1980, the day became known as Founders Day (Stigtingsdag).^[1]

The holiday was abolished after the first universal franchise election in 1994 and the subsequent new constitution.

Founders Day continues to be celebrated in the Afrikaner enclave Orania.^[2]