Before 1994, Heritage Day was not celebrated as a public holiday in South Africa. Instead, September 24 was known as Shaka Day in KwaZulu-Natal, a day commemorating the Zulu King Shaka. He was known for uniting the Zulu clan together and encouraging a cohesive nation. The Public Holidays Bill presented to the post-Apartheid Parliament of South Africa in 1996 did not include September 24 on the list of proposed public holidays. As a result of this exclusion, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a South African political party with a large Zulu membership, objected to the bill. Parliament and the ANC reached a compromise and the day was given its present title and accepted as a public holiday now known as Heritage Day).