Today is Heritage Day. This is what I have learned about the holiday (material is from http://www.info.gov.za/events/2001/heritageday01.htm).

*After South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, a Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed.
* Government agreed that prior to the 1994 elections, there were important historical days that the apartheid government did not recognise.
* These days were "unofficially" commemorated but not part of the calendar of public holidays.

* Cabinet decided that there should be a day (24 September) on which South Africans commemorate their heritage.
* The Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST), as the custodian of South Africa's culture, was given the responsibility to plan and manage events for Heritage Day at the national level annually.
* The first Heritage Day commemoration took place on 24 September 1995.

* Although South Africans have diverse cultures, elements of national unity, nation building, reconciliation and national patriotism should be emphasised.
* The ideal is to preserve, exhibit and promote our diverse but connected cultures.
* Heritage Day should encourage the youth, in particular, to embrace South Africa's common heritage.

And in talking to a few locals I got the sense that there may have been a holiday in September that was not politically correct that was dropped. I couldn't confirm this, however. Nonetheless today is Heritage Day and tomorrow is a public holiday. There are celebrations all over and President Mbeki is speaking at one of the events to be held in Cape Town today.