Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces;
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP;
Deputy President of the Republic, Honourable Kgalema Motlanthe;

Honourable Ministers and Premiers,

Honourable Deputy Ministers,

Honourable Members,

Special guests,

 

Let me begin by thanking the Presiding Officers for the opportunity to participate in this important Heritage Month debate. 

Nearly twenty years ago, we demonstrated to the world that it is possible to walk away from divisions and hatred and build a new non-racial,non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society. In that way, South Africans laid a firm foundation for a better future,  working together.

 

The passing of a progressive Constitution, the supreme law of the land, also confirmed that there would never again be a cruel system of institutionalisedracism and subjugation of any group of people in our beautiful country.

 

 

Since 1994 we have been building a new legacy and a new heritage for our country, based on the vision of building a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.

We are happy today to have as special guests in this House,74 second year journalism students from Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, Gauteng Province.

 

They are accompanied by their lecturers Dr Ndivhoniswani Tshidzumba and Mr Levy Ndou.

 

The presence of the students is important as the youth needs to understand and appreciate the rich heritage of their country and the foundation that hasbeen laid for a democratic society.

Honourable Members,

The theme of this year’s heritage month celebrations is “Reclaiming, Restoring and Celebrating Our Living Heritage”.

 

Aspects of living heritage include cultural traditions, oral history, performance,

popular memory, skills and techniques, indigenous knowledge systems and

the holistic approach to nature, society and social relationships.

 

The theme talks to our painful history. One of the powerful weapons of colonialism and apartheid was to control the production and reproduction of knowledge about the past of indigenous communities and to deny them a place in history as a people who rightfully belong to this land.

 

For this reason, the struggles for liberation and freedom that were waged over the past three centuries were not just about political freedom only. They were also about social, cultural and economic freedom.

 

 

They were about the oppressed reclaiming their identity, history, culture and traditions and demanding their rightful place in history and in their country.

 

The 19 years of freedom and democracy have thus included the building of a new cultural and heritage landscape, through the development of new national symbols, monuments, museums and festivals that define the new free, non-racialand democratic South Africa.

 

Amongst the visible aspects of our heritage are our popular national symbols.  Our colourful rainbow National Flag was unveiled on the 20th of April of 1994, and it continues to in still pride whenever we see it flying anywhere in our country or the world.

 

The Coat of Arms not only pays homage to some of the oldest inhabitants of our land and their languages. It also expresses an ideal that is central to our national identity, “Unity in Diversity”.

 

At a provincial level, all nine provinces designed and registered their Coats of Arms with the Bureau of Heraldry.

 

Those provincial coats of arms mark a remarkable departure from Western designs to an introduction of indigenous shapes of shields and crests inspired by African traditions and celebrating our African Heritage.

 

Our national anthem is one of the most powerful demonstrations of the willingness of South Africans to find each other under difficult circumstances.

 

It brings two compositions together to bridge past divides and heal the past wounds of a nation that was once painfully fragmented.

 

The national anthem is also unique in that it is sung in five languages; demonstrating the tireless desire to reconcile and promote national unity.

 

 

Our National Orders which are the highest honours that can be best owed by the President to locals and foreign nationals who are friends of the Republic, recognise communities that were previously excluded, while paying homageto South Africa’s rich heritage.

 

All these symbols contribute immensely to the building of a new heritage landscape and to the consolidation of our priceless heritage of freedom and democracy.

 

Malunguendluyesishayamthethoahloniphekileyo,

Mangigcizelele ukuthi amasiko nomlandu wezwe lakithiujule kakhulu. Udinga ukuthi siwulondoloze futhi siwusabalalise, waziwe ezweni lonkenasemhlabeni wonke jikelele.

Sizoqhubeka njengohulumeni ukwakha amaziko omlandunoma izizindi zomlandu omusha wezwelakithi.

Lokhusikwenzela ukubuyisa isithunzinesigqisabantunesezwe lakithi, nokugcizelela ukubuyisana nokwakha kabusha isizwe sakithi.

Honourable Members,

One of the biggest heritage milestones for the country was the marking of 100 years of the oldest liberation movement in Africa, the ANC, last year.

The ANC centenary was celebrated all over the country as well as in the African Union and the United Nations, as a celebration of the country’s rich heritage of fighting for freedom, equality, human rights and dignity.

In his speech at the High-level symposium on South Africa's Contribution to the Fight Against Racism and Xenophobia at the United Nations in September 2011 ahead of the centenary, United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki Moon said;

 

“When Nelson Mandela walked free the world sang with joy. Ever since, South Africa has stood as a beacon of hope for Africa.

 

 

“I felt it myself last year when I visited Johannesburg for the opening of the World Cup. Overwhelmingly, people want this non-racial democracy to succeed’’.

Indeed we have a responsibility to make our country succeed.

The UN Secretary-General also emphasised the fact that South Africa had quickly built a tradition of smooth democratic transition.

“It has a progressive constitution that entrenches and protects rights that most developed countries have not managed to guarantee, and gives women one-third of the seats in parliament.

“South Africa has a robust economy, and is an influential voice in continental and world affairs.... Yet with such success, such power, also comes great responsibility’’, he reminded us.

It is the knowledge of that responsibility that has made us to emphasise the need to work together in building the united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa we all seek.

The important question to ask is how can we promote national unity and a new national identity further?

How can we improve the understanding and appreciation of the country’s new inclusive heritage across all communities?

It means we need to work harder, all of us. There should be some non-negotiables that we agree on as political leaders as we take the country forward.

Our vision as the ANC government is to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, prosperous, equal and inclusive society. 

We believe it is not difficult to unite all leaders behind this vision.

Indeed, the overwhelming acceptance of the National Development Plan by Parliament is an indication of agreement with regards to what South Africa should look like by the year 2030. That is an encouraging development.

 

There have been other remarkable achievements over the past 19 years.

It was never going to be easy to build a new nation out of the ashes of colonial oppression and apartheid. It was also not going to be easy for communities to part with national symbols they had known all their lives and embrace new ones as they did for example with the new national anthem.

But all that has been achieved in the past few years which indicates the determination of our people to build a new society.

Allow me, therefore Honourable Speaker and Honourable Chairperson, to thank all South Africans for their tolerance, patience and understanding in particular during the process of building anew heritage landscape of the country since 1994.

New names of provinces, cities, towns, streets, airports, roads and bridges were finalised and rolled out nationally with minimal resistance. It is clear that those affected understood the necessity of correcting the wrongs of the past and to build a new inclusive society.

This maturity is one of the key attributes of the South African people.

We are always able to discuss and solve our problems regardless of how in surmountable they look to outsiders.

The uniqueness of South Africa also emerges in some of the monuments. For example, in Pretoria, Gauteng, a road has been built linking Voortrekker Monument and Freedom Parkas part of our ongoing commitment to reconciliation, social cohesion and nation building.

People visiting the Voortrekker Monument can easily walk across and also visit Freedom Park and vice versa.

In addition, the construction of a bridge linking Ncome Museum and the Blood River Monumenthas also been completed,  symbolisingreconciliation and a new beginning amongst communities that sought to destroy each other in the past. 

We also have monuments marking major events in history, such as the construction of a Heritage Centre marking the Pondo Revolt on Ingquza Hill in the Eastern Cape.

Honourable Members,

Our struggle was also fought beyond the borders and led to loss of life of foreign nationals.

In this regard, the Matola Raid Memorial in Mozambique has been completed and will forever be a reminder of the supreme prize the people of Mozambique paid to help liberate South Africa.

The monument will also serve as a reminder of the contribution of the people of SADC and Africa in general to the attainment of freedom and democracy.

Honourable Members,

To further correct and reverse the colonial legacy and restore the dignity of the Khoi and San communities further, we repatriated the stolen remains of Klaas and Trooi Pienaar whose remains had been removed from their graves by Austrian racist scientist RudolfPoch in September 1909 and sent to Vienna for experiments.

The heritage programme continues under the leadership of the Department of Arts and Culture. Many graves of liberation stalwarts have been restored, upgraded and declared as national heritage sites as part of recognition of the immense role they have played in building the type of society we live in.

Additional work in 2013, includes the commemoration of one hundred years of the Union Buildings, which will entail building new symbols of hope around the Union Buildings precinct.

This includes the statue of Former President Nelson Mandela, the first and founding President of the democratic South Africa who remains an inspiration to our people and the world.

We are also completing the construction of the home of the late President of the ANC Mr Oliver Tamboin Mbizana in the Eastern Cape. This will help the people of South Africa to know the contribution of this great hero our liberation struggle who kept the flame of freedom burning against all odds.

Honourable Members,

As indicated earlier, in addition to the enormous contribution of heritage to reconciliation and nation building, the programme also contributes to inclusive economic growth and job creation.

 

The Robben Island Museum and World Heritage has demonstrated the economic potential of heritage tourism.

 

During the 2012-2013 financial year, Robben Island Museum raised morethan what it receives from the Department of Arts and Culture, which was approximately R60 million against the grant of R58 million. 

 

The sources of revenue are: ticket sales, conferences and events, specialised tours, and VVIP visits.

 

A number of Heads of State and Government have visited the Island thus assisting to further promote this political university that produced luminaries such as our icon President Mandela and his peers.

Currently, maintenance projects on Robben Island have contributed to employment of more than 100 young people from local communities, a demonstration of the impact of cultural and heritage tourism.

 

We need to build on this economic potential and turn our heritage projects into key components of our economic development plans.

Honourable Members

Incidentally September is also Tourism Month.

 

The Department of Tourism has already launched its September campaign, encouraging South Africans to explore their country while also encouraging as many foreign tourists as possible to visit and enjoy the scenic beauty, the arts, culture and heritage of our country.

Compatriots

The primary source of our living heritage is the senior citizens of our country, our older persons. The Presidency will launch Older Persons Week on the 29thof September.

Older Persons Week normally runs from the 1st of October which is International Older Persons Day as designated by the United Nations to Grandparents Day on the first Sunday of October.

The Department of Social Development will lead celebrations during that week.

Other Departments and provinces will also host events promoting the well-being, role and contribution of older persons in society and also communicating the services they provide to older persons. 

We urge members of parliament to participate in events in their constituencies to support and promote the custodians of our living heritage.

Honourable Members,

Let me again thank the Presiding officers for the opportunity to open this debate.

We still have a long way to go towards a truly inclusive and non-racial heritage, but we have laid a good and solid foundation. Work must continue to promote social cohesion and national unity and to build a prosperous South Africa, to fully achieve the ideals of the founding father of this democracy, former President Mandela.

I would like to leave you with the words of Inkosi Albert Luthuli as he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961.

He said;

“Our vision has always been that of anon-racial democratic South Africa which upholds the rights of all who live in our country to remain there as full citizens with equal rights and responsibilities with all others.

“For the consummation of this ideal we have laboured unflinchingly. We shall continue to labour unflinchingly’’.

I thank you.