Africa News blog

South Africa’s birthday party that isn’t

It is exactly one hundred years today since the formation of the Union of South Africa, but there are no signs of celebration over that. What exactly is the Union, you might ask? On May 31 1910, the southern part of Africa that is today known as the Republic of South Africa became a unitary state under British dominion in pretty much the geographical shape which exists to this day.

Given that for most South Africans, history from 1910 until the end of white minority rule in 1994 was one of exclusion and oppression there may be understandable reasons why it is not a date to be accompanied by mass celebrations.

 But is that any reason why it should be forgotten? Hasn’t South Africa changed enough in 16 years that all races could see it as an important enough date in their common history to want to mark it?

 Giving his State of the Nation speech earlier this year, President Jacob Zuma noted the upcoming anniversary and the fact that the exclusion of black people in the Union led to the formation of the African National Congress in 1912. 

How will the Zuma team do?

Thousands of South Africans danced, cheered and sang hymns to celebrate President Jacob Zuma’s swearing in. Zuma, they said, as a man of the people, would give them houses and electricity, fight AIDS and crime, and ensure prosperity even as South Africa is on the brink of its first recession in 17 years.

But appointments to key ministries have raised questions over how well the new government will function.