Ngomhlaka 16 kuDisemba 1995, okokuqala ngqa, iNingizimu Afrika igubha usuku lokubuyisana lapho amasiko omzabalazo we-Afrikaner and liberation ayevunyelwa ukuba abe yingxenye yomphakathi wentando yeningi nolinganayo. Usuku, mhla zingama-16 kuDisemba, luphawuleka ngenxa yezenzakalo ezimbili ezenzeka esikhathini esedlule kakhulu seNingizimu Afrika.
Ngo-1838, abaseVoortrekkers babelungiselela ukulwa namaZula eMpini Yegazi. Ngomhlaka 16 kuDisemba bathatha isifungo phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ukuthi uma behlula amaZul, babezokwakha isonto, futhi ukuthi inzalo yabo izolubheka ngalolu suku njengosuku lokubonga.
Phakathi nonyaka wobandlululo, u-16 Disemba wanqunywa njengeholide lomphakathi, owaziwa ngokuthi yiSuku Sokuvota. Ngomhlaka-16 Disemba kwakungumhla lapho u-Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) wakhelwa khona ngo-1961.
Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, i-African National Congress (i-ANC), yayisebenzisa izinhlobo zokumelana nokungabi nabulungisa kobandlululo. Kodwa, ngemva kokubulawa kweSharpeville ngo-21 Mashi 1960, lapho kubhikishwa khona ababhikishi abanokuthula, ngokungazikhetheli, kwakubonakala sengathi imibhikisho enokuthula yedwa ayengeke ishintshe imithetho yobandlululo.
UMkhonto WeSizwe wakhiwa njengephiko lezempi le-ANC. Umsebenzi oyinhloko we-MK kwakuwukwenza izenzo zokuhlukunyezwa ezaletha ukugxila emzabalazweni wobandlululo. Kodwa izinkinga zenhlangano kanye nokuboshwa kwabaholi bayo ngo-1963 kwahlukumeza uMK ngenhloso yalo.
