Africa Day was celebrated today at the University of Pretoria Mamelodi campus.

President Jacob Zuma  led the celebrations and the theme this year  is:  “We are Africa- Opening the doors of learning and culture from Cape to Cairo"

Many dignitaries were in attendance including Gauteng Premier David Makhura and AU Chairperson DR Nkosazane Dlamini-Zuma. 

Festivities kicked off with the singing of the Organisation of African Unity ( AU)  anthem. Zuma urged that the public, schools and choirs start learning and singing the anthem. He also urged that schools, government and different institutions start flying the AU flag as well as the South African flag.

The Africa Day celebrations focused on xenophobia in light of the recent xenophobic attacks that happened a few weeks ago in the country.

AU chairperson Dr Dlamini-Zuma earlier took to the podium and stated that today the country was celebrating our “continent, Africaness and unity”.

She also stated that she never felt like a foreigner in Ethiopia she just felt like an African.

She spoke on a little known fact that 60% of tourists that visit South Africa are African.

President Zuma reiterated earlier remarks that South Africans were not xenophobic. 

Africa Day is officially on the 25 of May every year. Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) which is now known as the AU.