Blog home Lifestyle National Braai Day should be a public holiday on its own

National Braai Day should be a public holiday on its own

Not only is 24 September a public holiday (Heritage Day) but also doubles up as National Braai Day where locals from all over the nation will be sizzling some tasty chops, sausage and chicken (among other things) on the braai.

It is an annual occasion where friends and families come together to simply have a good time and enjoy the day's festivities, while celebrating South Africa's roots and diverse cultures. Braaing is such a large part of South African culture there's even a TV show (The Ultimate Braai Master) based on it.

This year, Heritage Day falls on a Saturday and for those who had ideas on making it a long weekend - unfortunately, that won't be happening this year. September also officially signifies the start of Spring so the weather should be clear on the day - though Mother Nature can often be temperamental.


Gumtree lists a couple of other items that can also be braai'd on the 24th of September:

Snoek - Even though saffers love their meat, there’s also something special about preparing a whole snoek cooked over hot coals and basted with apricot jam.

Braai broodjies - This is another local favourite, often made together with chicken and chops, where an ordinary cheese, onion and tomato sandwich is put on the coals for a total of two minutes.

Rooi worsies - Also known as a Penny Polony, its pink skin turns crispy after three minutes on the grill and can be enjoyed together with a nice potato or noodle salad to fill the plate.

Texan steak - This is a thick cut piece of steak that can be cooked in a variety of ways (well done, medium to well, medium or rare) depending on how long they stay on the coals. Beef or pork are the two meat options and some can even be cooked in the sealable bag they are packaged in.

Be sure to stock up on everything you need like charcoal, firelighters and wood because most people will be heading to the shops for the very same things. If you're in need of equipment like an apron, braai stand, grill or tongs, Gumtree's large online marketplace is where you'll find most or all of it.

Now that you’ve got the knowledge, it’s time to shop! Head to gumtree.co.za or your Gumtree app (click for Apple & Android) and don’t forget to use your location settings to find local service information close to home.