President Jacob Zuma will host the 2016 Africa Day celebration at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Wednesday.

It was intended to celebrate "African solidarity" as many countries on the continent had helped South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle, and provided material, social, political, and military support, the Presidency said on its website.

"Africa Day thus provides an opportunity to celebrate that African solidarity and to continue expressing it through the ongoing support for many in the continent who are caught up in conflict. It is a day for us to celebrate African solidarity, friendship, a common humanity and destiny.”

It was celebrated annually to mark the formation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963 and the African Union in 2002.