Embassy Activities

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Worker's Day 2019, 1 May

Originally born from the protracted struggle for workers’ rights and social justice of the late 1800s, Workers’ Day has been an international holiday in many countries since 1891. In South Africa, a country with its own long and sordid history of labour and social conflicts, Workers’ Day has been officially recognised and observed since the first democratic elections in 1994. The holiday serves both as a celebration of workers’ rights and as a reminder of the critical role that trade unions, the Communist Party and other labour organisations played in the fight against Apartheid.

Workers’ Day in South Africa holds its own cultural significance, as the public holiday has come to signify not only the sacrifices made on the long road toward fair employment standards, but also the bitter battle against Apartheid in which trade and labour unions played a key role. Because South Africa’s working classes were those most oppressed by Apartheid, the struggle for better working conditions and the struggle to overthrow systemic segregation became closely linked. Before the elections of 1994, labour and trade groups often used Workers’ Day as a symbol to rally the population against the segregation and oppression of the Apartheid system, organizing demonstrations and encouraging widespread resistance.

Africa’s Travel Indaba 2019, 2-4 May

Africa’s Travel Indaba is one of the largest tourism marketing events on the African calendar and one of the top three ‘must visit’ events of its kind on the global calendar, which will take place at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre (Durban ICC) on 2-4 May 2019.

It showcases the widest variety of Africa's best tourism products and attracts international buyers and media from across the world. Africa’s Travel Indaba is owned by South African Tourism and organised by Synergy Business Events (Pty) Ltd.

Africa’s Travel Indaba has won the awards for Africa’s best travel and tourism show. This award was presented by the Association of World Travel Awards.

South Africa National Election 2019, 8 May

The official date for the national elections in the Republic of South Africa is set for 8 May, 2019 and the official dates for South Africans abroad is scheduled for Saturday 27 April, 2019 from 07:00 to 21:00. South African embassies, high commissions and consulates are the designated voting stations for those living abroad.

The South African Embassy in Ankara will be assisting South African citizens on 27 April 2019 at the Embassy premises and it would like remind its citizens to bring their South African identity card and their valid South African passport to vote in the SA National Election. South Africans in Turkey are urged to prioritise their vote casting as an act of strengthening the country’s young democracy. South African citizens are further reminded to bring along their valid South African identity cards and South African passports to be able to vote in the National Elections.

2019 Presidential Inauguration, 25 May

The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa has announced that the inauguration of the President-Elect will take place on Saturday, 25 May 2019 in the City of Tshwane.

In a departure from the tradition of holding the inauguration at the Union Buildings, the event will take place at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Hosting the inauguration in a stadium, the largest in the City of Tshwane, will allow for greater public participation in this important national event.

It is symbolic that the inauguration will take place on Africa Day, as it affirms government’s commitment to advancing the African agenda and to strengthening ties between South Africa and its neighbours.

The theme of the inauguration ceremony is “Together celebrating 25 years of freedom: Renewal and Growth for a better South Africa.”

Aside from members of the public, it is expected that Heads of State and royalty from a number of countries will attend, as well as religious representatives, political parties, and representatives from regional, continental and international organisations and bodies such as the Southern African Development Community, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).

Africa Day 2019, 25 May

On 25 May 1963, Africa made history with the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) the precursor to the African Union (AU).

Africa Day is intended to celebrate and acknowledge the successes of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU now the AU) from its creation in May 25, 1963 in the fight against colonialism and apartheid, as well as the progress that Africa has made, while reflecting upon the common challenges that the continent face in a global environment.

Create, maintain and increase awareness for the public at large on the theme of the year 2018, as well as create African Unity through activities such as bazaars to showcase African cultural diversity in various aspects. Each year the Day has a different theme.

The South African Embassy encourages all our citizens to vote for a better South Africa.

Ambassador P I Malefane
South African Embassy in Ankara, Turkey