Today, 16 December, we commemorate the Day of the Vow – the day in 1838 when the Voortrekkers, led by the likes of Andries Pretorius and Sarel Cilliers, made a sacred vow to God before the Battle of Blood River.
They promised that, if God granted them victory over a mighty enemy, they would annually commemorate the day and the victory and build a house to His honour.
This vow was not merely a desperate prayer, but a heartfelt expression of faith, trust and perseverance. It secured the Afrikaner’s survival in a time of great uncertainty and danger. The Day of the Vow reminds us of the Afrikaner’s historical struggle for freedom, self-determination and the right to retain their own identity in challenging circumstances.
Today, the Day of the Vow is more than a historical commemoration for the Afrikaner, it is a living symbol of faith in God, a celebration of survival and perseverance, and an affirmation of cultural identity safeguarding language, history and tradition against marginalisation.
In a diverse South Africa, most people seek peace, safety and a better future for their children. Genuine reconciliation is indeed possible, but it cannot be coerced. True reconciliation occurs spontaneously when none of the diverse groups feels threatened, oppressed or marginalised – including the Afrikaner.
The power of such reconciliation fades, however, when one group’s history is portrayed in a prejudiced negative light or when their contribution is disregarded.
Over several decades, Afrikaners made an enormous contribution to South Africa’s economic and infrastructure development.
It is time to recognise that role in a balanced way, without denying that mistakes were made in the past.
So, Reconciliation Day and the annual commemoration of the 1838 Vow are not in contrast with, but complementary, to each other. It would be a mistake to force Afrikaners to choose between the two. In fact, both are possible: commemorating our vow and heritage, and striving for reconciliation and respect for all cultures.
South Africa should be a country where every group is free to celebrate its heritage, without assimilation or annihilation.
Let us use this day to reflect on the 1838 Vow – as a source of inspiration for faith, unity and a shared, safe future.
Freedom Front Plus Ideology: The party promotes Afrikaner nationalism and self-determination for minority groups.
Divine Bramble
Iceland: You have two cows. They freeze to death.
Slacker Cat
Hoezit /Howzit – How is it going? How are you? A common greeting which is often used instead of “hello” and “how are you?” It combines the two phrases into a simple, “Howzit”, thereby saving time.Example: “Howzit my bru!”