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On this Day in South Africa Trivia Quiz

Things happen every day all over the world, but I only care about what happened on certain days in South Africa. See about how much you know about this nation of 40 million!

A multiple-choice quiz by jesus_geek. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jesus_geek

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
224,380

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1419

Last 3 plays: bernie73 (7/10), Guest 41 (9/10), sabbaticalfire (1/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. On January 8, 2006, President Thabo Mbeki announced the ANC's candidates for the upcoming provincial elections. Why was this date significant? Hint

It marked the 94th anniversary of the founding of the ANC.

It marked the 16th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release from prison.

It marked the 30th anniversary of the riots in Soweto.

It marked the 51st anniversary of the signing of the Freedom Charter.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. February 11th is another important day in South African history because it marks the anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release from prison. In which year was he released? Hint

1989

1994

1991

1990

3. March 21 is celebrated as Human Rights Day in South Africa to commemorate the 1960 massacre of black South Africans and to prevent something like it from ever happening again. Where did this massacre take place? Hint

Vereeniging

Pretoria

Johannesburg

Sharpeville

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Question 4 of 10

4. April 27 marks the anniversary of the election of Nelson Mandela as president of South Africa, and is celebrated as a national holiday. What is the name of this holiday? Hint

Mandela Day

It isn't a holiday

Triumph Day

Freedom Day

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Question 5 of 10

5. This day in May is celebrated as Workers' Day to recognise the contributions of the working class to the development of democracy in South Africa. Which day is it? Hint

The 18th

The 30th

The 1st

The second Sunday

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Question 6 of 10

6. Youth Day is celebrated on the 16th of June to commemorate what? Hint

The persistence of the youth in prompting the end of apartheid

Sharpeville Massacre

Soweto riots

Desmond Tutu winning the Nobel Peace Prize

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Question 7 of 10

7. June 26, 2005 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of this ANC document, which laid the foundation of the ANC's policy for decades. Hint

Three Doctors' Pact

The ANC's Constitution

Freedom Charter

Morogoro Declaration

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. This day commemorates August 9, 1956, when women demonstrated against pass laws. (A pass was a document carried by non-whites to prove that they were allowed to enter a white area.) Hint

National Women's Day

Equality Day

Demonstration Day

Freedom Day

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. September 24th is celebrated as a day when all South Africans celebrate their diverse roots and show that diversity is the key to unity. What is the name of this holiday? Hint

Unity Day

Remembrance Day

Diversity Day

Heritage Day

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Question 10 of 10

10. December 16th was celebrated for over 150 years as the Day of the Vow, a day to celebrate the Afrikaner victory over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River. What is this holiday now known as? Hint

Day of the Vow

Day of Reconciliation

It is no longer a holiday

Unity Day

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 11 2024 : bernie73: 7/10
Apr 08 2024 : Guest 41: 9/10
Apr 02 2024 : sabbaticalfire: 1/10
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 169: 9/10
Mar 14 2024 : Guest 105: 7/10
Mar 12 2024 : Guest 144: 8/10
Feb 29 2024 : ZWOZZE: 3/10
Feb 28 2024 : fatcat49: 8/10
Feb 23 2024 : Guest 197: 0/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. On January 8, 2006, President Thabo Mbeki announced the ANC's candidates for the upcoming provincial elections. Why was this date significant?

Answer: It marked the 94th anniversary of the founding of the ANC.

The African National Congress was founded on January 8, 1912 by Pixley ka Isaka Seme, John Dube, and many other South African patriots.

2. February 11th is another important day in South African history because it marks the anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release from prison. In which year was he released?

Answer: 1990

Upon his release from Victor Verster prison in Cape Town, he said, "Our march to freedom is irreversible. We must not allow fear to stand in our way. Universal suffrage on a common voters' role in a united democratic and non-racial South Africa is the only way to peace and racial harmony."

Answer: Sharpeville

The Sharpeville Massacre marked the end of peaceful protest by blacks against the Nationalist government. The ANC and the PAC were banned only four days later, and their respective armed struggles started soon after that.

4. April 27 marks the anniversary of the election of Nelson Mandela as president of South Africa, and is celebrated as a national holiday. What is the name of this holiday?

Answer: Freedom Day

It was not uncommon for people to wait in queues of up to three hours in order to cast their vote.

5. This day in May is celebrated as Workers' Day to recognise the contributions of the working class to the development of democracy in South Africa. Which day is it?

Answer: The 1st

Celebrated worldwide as May Day, the holiday is often associated with socialism and communism.

6. Youth Day is celebrated on the 16th of June to commemorate what?

Answer: Soweto riots

Youth Day commemorates 1976's Soweto riots, initially sparked by the government's decision that black students would be taught mostly in Afrikaans. The iconic picture of Hector Pieterson, a black schoolboy murdered by the police, drove home to many people the brutality of the apartheid regime and helped to hasten its demise.

7. June 26, 2005 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of this ANC document, which laid the foundation of the ANC's policy for decades.

Answer: Freedom Charter

Some groups labelled the document 'Communist', and there was speculation that the post-1994 government would be socialist. However, these predictions did not come true, and South Africa remains a capitalist country.

8. This day commemorates August 9, 1956, when women demonstrated against pass laws. (A pass was a document carried by non-whites to prove that they were allowed to enter a white area.)

Answer: National Women's Day

Women hastened the end of apartheid, "because of your struggles over decades, your resilience, and your defiance, because of the courage with which the women of South Africa responded". -Oliver Tambo

9. September 24th is celebrated as a day when all South Africans celebrate their diverse roots and show that diversity is the key to unity. What is the name of this holiday?

Answer: Heritage Day

"When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation. We did so knowing that the struggles against the injustice and inequities of the past are part of our national identity; they are part of our culture. We knew that, if indeed our nation is to rise like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes of division and conflict, we had to acknowledge those whose selfless efforts and talents were dedicated to this goal of non-racial democracy." --Nelson Mandela

10. December 16th was celebrated for over 150 years as the Day of the Vow, a day to celebrate the Afrikaner victory over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River. What is this holiday now known as?

Answer: Day of Reconciliation

The Day of the Vow was an Afrikaner Nationalist day that was despised by many of the other ethnic groups in the apartheid years, and so the name was changed by the Government of National Unity to reflect this openness in the new South Africa.

Source: Author jesus_geek

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