People participate in a celebration of the Day of Reconciliation at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, South Africa, on Dec. 16, 2025. December 16 was called the Day of the Vow in South Africa. It was renamed the Day of Reconciliation in 1994 after the end of apartheid, with the intention of fostering reconciliation and national unity. (Xinhua/Chen Wei)

People participate in a celebration of the Day of Reconciliation at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, South Africa, on Dec. 16, 2025. December 16 was called the Day of the Vow in South Africa. It was renamed the Day of Reconciliation in 1994 after the end of apartheid, with the intention of fostering reconciliation and national unity. (Xinhua/Chen Wei)

A beam of sunlight shines on a woman before noon as people gather to celebrate the Day of Reconciliation at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, South Africa, on Dec. 16, 2025. December 16 was called the Day of the Vow in South Africa. It was renamed the Day of Reconciliation in 1994 after the end of apartheid, with the intention of fostering reconciliation and national unity. (Xinhua/Chen Wei)

People wait to see the sun shining on the Cenotaph around noon on the Day of Reconciliation at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, South Africa, on Dec. 16, 2025. December 16 was called the Day of the Vow in South Africa. It was renamed the Day of Reconciliation in 1994 after the end of apartheid, with the intention of fostering reconciliation and national unity. (Xinhua/Chen Wei)

People wait to see the sun shining on the Cenotaph around noon on the Day of Reconciliation at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, South Africa, on Dec. 16, 2025. December 16 was called the Day of the Vow in South Africa. It was renamed the Day of Reconciliation in 1994 after the end of apartheid, with the intention of fostering reconciliation and national unity. (Xinhua/Chen Wei)

People wait to see the sun shining on the Cenotaph around noon on the Day of Reconciliation at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, South Africa, on Dec. 16, 2025. December 16 was called the Day of the Vow in South Africa. It was renamed the Day of Reconciliation in 1994 after the end of apartheid, with the intention of fostering reconciliation and national unity. (Xinhua/Chen Wei)