Heritage Day, also known as National Braai Day, is celebrated in September and serves as an occasion to celebrate the culture, tastes, and connections of South Africa, reminding us that the feeling of home is often found in shared traditions and memories.
When gathering in South Africa, arguments about barbecue, guests arriving beyond the planned number, and someone insisting that their family prepares the best version of any dish on the table are almost guaranteed.
Dotsure, a supporter of the 'Mrs South Africa' competition, surveyed the finalists of the Mrs South Africa 2026 competition about the significance of heritage to them. Their answers covered a wide range of topics: from family recipes and favorite songs to wildlife and pets they consider part of the family.
Start with something delicious
The finalists placed a lot of emphasis on food in their plans. Angelika Jansen van Rensburg prefers milk tart, boerewors rolls, and biltong, while Megan Kaister's ideal table includes steak, ribs, wors, braaibroodjies, and homemade salads. Carica Bebp keeps the menu simple, choosing boerewors, and Aleche Landman opts for ribeye, pap, baked potatoes, and papoukies.
Despite the variety of menus, there is a common sense of people coming together.
Add some Mzansi to the playlist
The soundtrack of home can be quite specific. For Angelika, it is the National Anthem. Megan chooses the song 'Sister Bethina' by Mgarimbe, and Carica prefers 'World in Union' by PJ Powers. Aleche doesn't need a playlist at all; the sound of a wild goose instantly transports her home.
Megan reflects on the importance of kinship and human connection, emphasizing that there is room for everything in this.
Visit a place that tells a story
The finalists' choices demonstrate how differently a place can hold meaning. Angelika and Aleche chose Kruger National Park, Megan chose Robben Island due to its historical significance to South Africa, and Carica settled on Cape Town.
Your place can be a famous landmark or a local shop where everyone knows your name, a beach you visited every December, or your grandparents' old house.
Preserve traditions
For the finalists, family traditions often boiled down to something surprisingly simple: family meals, Sunday gatherings, barbecues, and shared memories featured in their answers.
Create your own version of Heritage Day
There is no single recipe for a typical South African celebration. Yours might include a Durban bunny chow, a family barbecue, a favorite song, a trip to a beautiful place, or a dog sleeping under the table while everyone else goes about their business.
Heritage lives in the things we remember, the traditions we uphold, and the new memories we create along the way. Dotsure believes that the things we cherish are worth appreciating and preserving. So gather your loved ones and enjoy everything that makes your corner of the country feel like home.