Chairperson and hon members, I greet you in this Heritage Month. As we celebrate our heritage and the hard work of our nation, united in its diversity, we also thank the people of this nation for all the good work done during the historic first 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup to be held on African soil.
This year's national Heritage Day celebrations will be held in Durban on 24 September at the Moses Mabhida Stadium with the theme "Celebrating the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup successes: Our heritage", and will be addressed by President Jacob Zuma.
Our religious communities will lead a thanksgiving service to give thanks for a successful 2010 World Cup. On this occasion political leaders will also be requested to participate through presenting their messages to the nation.
Our sports teams from various sporting codes and our football legends will be given pride of place at this event. Our artists will also participate and show their commitment to a nation united in action.
Truly, the 2010 World Cup was an event where our people stood together, where they displayed great patriotism and great confidence in themselves. In this way, as a nation, we exhibited a renewed consciousness of who we are as a people and what we can do together; a sense of pride in what we have achieved and can achieve together, through displays of the South African flag; and also a sense of an African identity evident in our collective support for the other African countries participating in the 2010 World Cup.
As a people united in action, the challenge moving forward is how to use this example as a living legacy to propel our people into the future, to be confident about our own destinies, our own abilities, and to be proud of our history and to honour our living human treasures.
The theme of national Heritage Day, therefore, is a call to all South Africans who pooled their efforts in making the 2010 World Cup a success to use their energy to make this country a better place and to work together towards social cohesion. Let the achievements of this year be a source of inspiration, hope and strength, especially when we are confronted with the challenges we face as a nation in our daily lives.
This was, in fact, ubuntu in action. Ubuntu is our core value, encompassing inclusiveness, communal solidarity, empathy, kindness and sharing, which sums up the spirit of togetherness and generosity characterised by the South African participation in the 2010 World Cup.
Yet I am sure that you will agree that the full story of how we, as a nation, rallied together to welcome guests to our shores is yet to be told. How we constructed stadiums, how we built roads, how we offered our homes to others, supported our national team and all African teams, how we rallied behind our national flag, how we prepared and practised, and how we sang and danced to our vuvuzelas and makarapas and welcomed the world, is a story yet to be told.
This is a story, of course, of discipline and selflessness, of industriousness and family values - a story of profound humanism that celebrates a united nation at its best. It was a timely reminder of the very foundations, values and principles that are enshrined in our Constitution and also of what we have come to stand for. It is a reminder that in winning a long and hard battle for equality, for a nonracial and nonsexist society, we, as South Africa, were seeking to take humanity forward through helping ourselves and the world to turn over a new leaf, to enter a new productive space of possibilities and, out of this, to give birth to a new man and a new woman.
It is in this context that the topic of today's debate on living out the values of a just and caring society gains meaning. Our leaders, such as Charlotte Maxeke, Chief Albert Luthuli, Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph and Oliver Tambo placed emphasis on nonracialism, nonsexism and an inclusive society as being essential for the transformation of our nation. They lived their lives with these values guiding their actions. We need to follow their example. On culture, President O R Tambo said:
Our people, with their varied cultures, which are continuously mingling and interacting to their mutual enrichment, exhibit, despite their conditions, a great love for life and a sensitive joy in the creative and human endeavours of the people of the world, without exception. These ordinary, industrious and peaceful people want to revolutionise themselves and their country.
It is this selfsame spirit described by Comrade O R Tambo that characterises our people today. It is indeed our great love for life and a sensitive joy that enables us to make our stories and to value our cultural experience.
It is precisely our commitment to the creative and humane endeavours of the peoples of the world that has propelled us to want the story of our people and our nation to take its pride of place in the narratives of the world as our contribution to our own development and as part of world culture.
It is in this context of drinking from the fountains of history and learning from the men and women of practical wisdom in our communities and those who gave birth to us that we are embarking upon an initiative to honour and to celebrate our living human treasures.
"Celebrating South Africa's living human treasures: The custodians of our intangible cultural heritage" is an initiative of the Department of Arts and Culture to draw attention to the role played by our living legends and to seek to protect and preserve this knowledge and to transmit it to future generations.
The programme also makes provision for the posthumous recognition of living treasures where strong recommendations are made by bearer communities. Accordingly, this policy will ensure that the status of national living treasures is a lifelong status.
The arts and culture sector is full of such distinguished individuals. I am sure we have some of them up there amongst our beautiful women. Malibongwe! [Praise!] [Applause.]
The symbols of our nation are also important parts of our heritage. Earlier this month, one of the flags flown beneath the helicopters at President Mandela's inauguration in 1994 was rescued for our country by a great patriot, Mr Giuseppe Ciucci. This flag will be formally handed over to our government at an event on 27 September at Stellenbosch University.
We are also going to host a national seminar on human living treasures on 30 September 2010. The main objective of the seminar is to start a national dialogue that will further expand and elaborate on the concept of living human treasures.
During Women's Month, we honoured Charlotte Maxeke, Lillian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph by declaring their graves national monuments. We honoured Dulcie September by instituting a Dulcie September Memorial Lecture at the University of the Western Cape.
On Thursday, tomorrow, we shall also launch the Social History Centre at the Iziko Museums here in Cape Town. This centre will also play an important role in the preservation of our heritage.
Last week I also announced our department's support for the design and construction of the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsburg in the Eastern Cape which will comprise a museum, an archives centre, a community media centre, performance spaces and a commemorative garden. In this way, new generations will be able to understand their history with confidence and renewed consciousness.
In this way and through these initiatives, we are beginning to make strides, as South Africans, to preserve and promote our creative and humane endeavours, as Comrade O R Tambo coined it. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon members and our beautiful guests in the gallery, lo kovhela [good evening]. The celebration of heritage must seek to contribute to the resolution of three interrelated contradictions, namely class, race and gender oppression.
In the context of arts and culture and the celebration of heritage, these contradictions impact on socioeconomic, cultural, religious, family and other relations in all communities. Their impact presents deep-seated challenges that could require strategic transformation in order to build values of a just and caring society. Our debate should promote an understanding that there is a dialectical relationship between heritage and culture, social cohesion and quality of life.
South Africa's rich heritage has been recorded and stocked in the libraries in both rural and urban communities, but not in its totality. In this regard the ANC policy emphasises that arts and culture should be preserved and promoted as part of heritage. Moreover, the production of arts and crafts should be financially resourced and encouraged among the communities.
This task requires the capacity of the economy to allocate funds for the purposes of building a unitary state. In a diverse, constitutional, democratic society like ours, the impact of heritage and culture is profound and central to enhancing the values of a just and caring society.
Fortunately, there is tremendous progress within this area, also as far as ensuring that heritage and culture is popularised, preserved, democratised and opened to all South Africans. Many now serve as a rich resource for communities. Community needs have been integrated into appropriately restructured management of heritage resources.
The ANC government must continue to strengthen partnerships across society to ensure social cohesion and a better quality of life.We must consolidate partnerships across society to strengthen social cohesion and ensure that our nation achieves the values of a caring society. Indeed, the need to build co-operation among all South Africans applies more so to matters of spiritual sustenance, such as beliefs and moral values, which are as communal as they are profoundly personal.
This we must do, proceeding from the understanding that comprehensive social transformation entails changing the material conditions of all South Africans for the better, but also ensuring that we forge a nation inspired by values of human solidarity. It is the combination of these factors that describes the civilisation of the national democracy that we seek to build.
We must continue to encourage the development and promotion of traditions, religious expressions and other belief systems which are consistent with the values of our country's Constitution. These form a critical part of the nation's collective resource in the promotion of humane values. In this regard we must seek to emphasise that which is common and good for our society.
I believe in linking the values and quality of life firmly to key priorities such as access to health, housing, rural development and anticorruption. These are of vital importance to ensure that values are entrenched as a key component of development. The Ready to Govern document argues that, through arts and culture, a sense of national identity and pride can be cultivated.
We must promote the national democratic revolutions' revolutionary values of morality, and these long-standing values must inform the new national democratic society as articulated in the ANC's 2007 Strategy and Tactics document. The society we seek to build must have a humane value system, a strong revolutionary morality and must espouse the principle of selflessness and a deep-rooted respect for truth and honesty.
The Strategy and Tactics document argues that a national democratic society should be founded on a thriving economy. It should be an economy that promotes development, decent jobs and rural co-operatives to ensure national prosperity. These include vegetable gardens and the development of letsema [collective farming].
In many communities, Heritage Month is associated with agridevelopment activities. Critical to this is the value system based on human solidarity and appreciation of the culture of hard work and zeal.
This debate takes place during the month of September. This is the month that is central to the area of agriculture and rural development because our diverse communities are united at this time of the year in ploughing their lands and cultivating their gardens in order to plant maize, vegetables and fodder for their animals.
Great strides have been taken since 1994 in the project of nation-building. Key steps have been taken to advance the national democratic project of reconciliation, patriotism and a proudly South African identity. These accomplishments are rooted in longstanding ANC traditions such as nonracialism, nonsexism, nontribalism and unity.
In this regard, social cohesion and revolutionary moral values and quality of life should be linked to building the infrastructural conditions for a united nation. Through appropriate policies it should overcome the legacy of the Group Areas Act, apartheid social geography, inequalities and uneven development. Through our programmes for housing, social security, quality health care and sport and recreation, we aim to continue to build a life of better quality and values. Housing is not just about building houses but also about transforming our cities and towns; building cohesive, sustainable and caring communities with closer access to work and social amenities, including sports and recreation facilities; and a better health system with the necessary hospital infrastructure.
Our health system and the provision of antiretroviral drugs are aimed at empowering those living with HIV and Aids. Similarly, the new economic path must succeed in creating decent jobs, ensuring quality of life and closing the gap between our people in both income and wage.
We must proceed from the understanding that comprehensive social transformation entails changing the material conditions of all South Africans for a better quality life. It also entails ensuring that we forge a nation inspired by values of human solidarity. It is the combination of these factors that describe the national democracy that we seek to build.
All sectors of society must ensure an overarching South African identity, recognising the diversity of the country's people. We need to promote pride in our heritage, including our African identity and our common humanity as global citizens. The 2010 Soccer World Cup has left us with a rich heritage that we must preserve and promote. Central to this endeavour is the ongoing mobilisation of all South Africans to strengthen the nation's moral fibre, informed by the ideals of human compassion and solidarity.
In conclusion, the debate on social cohesion, heritage and values must not be seen in a socioeconomic vacuum. Of significant importance are the improvement of our country's economy and the quality of life of our people.
Planting and harvesting for a future quality life for our people is the hope that heritage brings. In that sense, September is not only looking to the future, but also backward-looking to improve programmes of the past in order to ensure unity and a life of quality for our people. I thank you.
Hon Chair, this month we celebrate our heritage and it is usually a time of looking back and reflecting on our heritage. Heritage is often defined as what we inherit, what we value or what we want to pass on to future generations. In this sense we tend to refer to our tangible and intangible heritage, our cultural capital.
During Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich diversity of this cultural capital. I do believe that at this particular juncture where we are in our country today, it is perhaps more important and imperative to reflect on the values that we have today, which will be the heritage that we pass on to future generations. What is the heritage that they will reflect on, and will it be worth celebrating? This is a tremendous responsibility, as we are the authors of our own history and heritage.
When we talk about living out the values of a just and caring society, most people would agree that they wish to live in a just society. The question, however, is: What is meant by a just society? This question has been asked by numerous philosophers, leaders and academics, and their answers differ greatly, depending on their ideological context.
I would, however, propose the following. A just society should be seen as more than the mechanical application of the rules of justice. Inherent in this is the understanding that justice, and in this sense also fairness of access, must be actual, not just theoretical or something that lip service is paid to.
A caring society refers to a positive state of affairs where there is social justice and equality, free from oppressive forces; access to quality education, adequate health and social services; economic prosperity; adequate housing; a clean and safe environment; support for community structures; and the opportunity to engage in cultural and religious activities.
The aim for a just and caring society is one in which all people, with no exceptions, have the rights, freedom and capacity to access services and resources to enhance their wellbeing, and where the most disadvantaged and marginalised members of society are given extra support to ensure such access; or, stated in a different way, an open-opportunity society for all.
But let us examine some of the values of a just and caring society and reflect on where we are and to what extent we do, in fact, live out the values. The first value is that of respect, where the intrinsic worth of all individuals is recognised.
Every human being has a unique worth and all people are entitled to be treated with honour and respect. Respect is a cornerstone of justice and caring. Injustice and neglect can only flourish where respect for others is absent.
Where are we? What are we leaving as a heritage? Are we leaving behind as a heritage health workers prevented by force and violence to care for patients as seen in the recent strike; teachers preventing others by force to teach; and even worse, teachers preventing learners to learn and write exams?
What values of justness and caring do these learners take with them on their journey into the future? Perhaps the answer can already be seen in learners attacking other learners to prevent them from writing exams, as it is happening right now.
Another value of a just and caring society is opportunities for participation. This is a society where people are given choices about how they live, where they have the means to make those choices and where people are not only beneficiaries, but active participants. This is where they have the right and freedom and capacity to take responsibility for their own destiny.
What do we have in our country today? Do people have the ability to make their own choices and have access to opportunities or do they have to belong to the ruling party to get access to opportunities? In other words, the value that is fostered is one of who you know, what your party- political and family connections are and not what your merit is.
A just and caring society is one where everyone has equal access to information. But what kind of just society are we creating when this government proposes a Bill, aimed at keeping information from members of society; when media tribunals are proposed? What are the values that we leave as heritage? Is it values of silence and secrecy?
If we reflect on what our society looks like today, it is not the embodiment of a just and caring society. The problem is that we treat values as something out there, something that we can create and establish commissions and movements for. And we believe a few projects and workshops will make us a society that lives out these values. But the reality is that values have to be part of our daily lives at every level and have to be the guiding force in all our activities.
Every act that defies the values of justness and caring, every contradiction in what is said and what is practiced, erodes the heritage that we leave to future generations.
Chairperson, hon Minister, and hon members, in Cope we have a very strong belief in the rights of individuals and communities to live by their religious views and to uphold their cultural heritage. This is because we stand for the rights that are guaranteed in our Constitution. Heritage Day must, therefore, play an intricate but pivotal role in nation- building in our country.
Every Heritage Day should serve as a milestone to determine how many more obstacles we have to overcome as a nation on our journey to a common national identity. We conceived Heritage Day as a way to reinforce the political compromise we have reached. On this year's Heritage Day we should set aside differences in political affiliations, creed, race and religion and share our culture and learn from one another.
During the World Cup we demonstrated to ourselves and to the world our pride in being South Africans. There was such unity among all South Africans, regardless of age and race. We all want to be South Africans because we understand the importance and significance of having a common bond that ties all of us together in spite of our diversity.
South Africa is today the world's most unequal society, unfortunately. Millions of our people are out of work. Poverty and destitution are endemic. For many the dream for a better life for all has turned into a living nightmare. Heritage Day must give us time to pause and reflect. Is this the kind of society we set out to forge in 1994 - a society in which social equality will be stifled?
Unity and national identity are universal values that all nations seek to promote. All over the world there is a need for nations to forge together regardless of history, race, age or culture. For example, the United States will celebrate for the whole month the contribution that Hispanic Americans have made, stretching from today, 15 September 2010, to 15 October 2010. During this time, Hispanic heritage and culture will be celebrated and recognised.
I want this House to ponder for a moment the possibility of such a move in our own country. We ourselves have so much to offer because we are such a diverse group of people and, in the process, we could even create a tourism bonanza. We are a unique country because the cradle of human society is right here on our doorstep. We are unique also in being the first country ever to settle deep political divisions around a negotiating table rather than resorting to a destructive war to settle the conflict.
On this day, therefore, it is not only important to make a potjie and samp, have a braai, drink umqombothi and dish out a delicious Malay curry, but also to look back at our history and commemorate those who fought for the political and cultural freedom that we enjoy today, including the values that they fought for.
It is proper and fitting that Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has been decreed patron of this day. What a major role he played in fighting for liberation and then consolidating democracy in South Africa! He was the first black South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa.
He has been active in the defence of human rights and used his high profile to campaign for the oppressed. He has campaigned to fight Aids, TB, homophobia, poverty and racism. Tutu received the Nobel Peace Price in 1984, the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism in 1986, the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2005, and many more too numerous for me to mention within the limited time that I have. This is an impressive track record for one man.
However, we too have all played our little roles in bringing South Africa to where it is today. The ordinary people, young and old, fought against the apartheid regime as did the social and political movements that were organised by and in which ordinary people participated.
Many people fought and died so that we could be free and live in peace, unafraid of one another. We salute them and in remembering them we must take the work they began forward.
We should all be proud that we have the privilege to celebrate such a day in freedom. The very fact that this day exists shows that we have truly come a long way. Therefore, Cope encourages all South Africans to enjoy the coming public holiday and to celebrate our freedom and, above all, the values of our common humanity.
I join those who praised the women up there; they really do look very beautiful. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk M N Oliphant): Malungu ahloniphekile, bengicela ukuthi nehlise amazwi. Abanye bethu iminyaka ngicabanga ukuthi ihambile, kanti abanye baba nenkinga yokuthi baphathwa amazinyo bawakhipha isikhathi singakafiki; manje uma nihlebeza ungathi igundwane lihamba. Ngakho-ke ngiyanicela ukuthi nehlise amazwi. Ngicela oSotswebhu njengoba bethembisile namhlanje ekuseni ukuthi bazoqinisekisa ukuthi amalungu awawubangi umsindo. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M N Oliphant): Hon members, could you please lower your voices. Some of us are old, and others had problems with their teeth which they had removed before it was time to do so. Now when you are whispering it sounds like a moving mouse. So please lower your voices. Chief Whips, please honour the promises that you made this morning; you promised that you will make sure that the members do not make a noise.]
Chairperson, we, including the hon members around me, the House, this Parliament, in fact all South Africans today, are the product of the rich and varied heritage of this our land, South Africa.
Heritage Day marks the day on which South Africans come together and celebrate what it means to be truly South African, what it means to be united, and what it means to have a common vision arising from a rich and varied cultural diversity, which truly means no boundaries, as it is a celebration of our unity in diversity.
Therefore, it behoves us to honour and, at the same time, showcase to the rest of the world that we are one human race, sharing a common evolutionary vision of a harmonious and unified tomorrow.
The IFP commends both our leaders, His Excellency Prince Buthelezi and our Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini, for the manner in which they both emphasise Zulu cultural heritage in the improvement and upliftment of the Zulu people. Two examples in that regard are the umkhosi womhlanga or reed dance and the male circumcision rite.
The reed dance, which encourages the tradition of remaining a virgin until marriage, and the male circumcision rite, which is now performed by qualified medical practitioners, directly address the scourge and spread of HIV and Aids.
In conclusion, and in the commemoration and spirit of King Shaka, the King of amaZulu - who himself played a most resolute and, in fact, destiny- defining role in the unification of the entire Zulu nation - the IFP would like to see the entire nation of South Africa come together on Heritage Day, united under one common cause, namely a better and brighter tomorrow for all South Africans. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Ministers, the Deputy Ministers present here and our guests in the gallery ...
Ndzi ri perile. [Good evening.]
Allow me, Chairperson, to say that our assessment of the contribution of culture towards social cohesion and a caring society resonates well with the Reconstruction and Development Programme, RDP, when it provides a description that arts and culture are within the system of socialisation and reflect the whole organisation of society. Our appreciation of the Heritage Day debate recognises that cultural expression and arts and culture permeates all aspects of society and are integral parts of social and economic life.
However, the 1994 democratic breakthrough sought to affirm and promote the rich and diverse expression of South African culture by giving constitutional right to all people to practise their culture, language, beliefs and customs.
In the post-1994 situation, the ANC's key task has been to promote the development of a unifying national culture representing the aspirations of all South Africans. The key task includes promotion of the principles of nonracialism, nonsexism, human rights and democracy.
This includes the task of conserving and promoting South Africa's national heritage. Part of this perspective places arts education squarely within the national education curricula. This pertains to preprimary schools and the secondary and tertiary levels, including informal educational structures.
In creating cultural expression, I have no doubt, Chairperson, that the language, dance, songs, symbols and art and crafts are expressions of heritage. They transmit ideas, expressions, collective memory and the interpretation of the cultural value systems.
Our country is a multilingual society with a significant number of languages, and it is this diversity that becomes the strength of our heritage and democratic values. In this regard, the ANC policy recognises, protects and develops all languages.
Our Bill of Rights constitutes a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. The Constitution enshrines the rights of the people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. These values contribute to the growth of our democracy. Section 30 states that -
Everyone has a right to use the language and to participate in the cultural life of their choice, but no one exercising these rights may do so in a manner that is inconsistent with any provision of the Bill of Rights.
This section provides that diverse cultures and the development of languages are not to be used for political cessation from the rest of South Africa, the promotion of division, ethnic mobilisation, narrow identities or chauvinistic Africanism.
Section 31(1) states that -
Persons belonging to a cultural, religious or linguistic community may not be denied the right, with other members of that community, to enjoy their cultural practices, religion and the use of their language.
This section promotes vibrant development of constitutional values amongst different communities, particularly the historically oppressed communities.
In the past 16 years, there has been a concerted effort to build South Africa as a nation state, to build national common identity and South Africanness. We have made advances to reverse the legacy of apartheid colonialism. Our nation achieved some values of a caring society inspired by the traits of human compassion, which informed our struggle against apartheid colonialism. Indeed, the need for spiritual matters, sustenance of such beliefs and moral values are as communal as they are profoundly personal.
Key to the contribution of culture towards a caring society is the promotion of the principle of ubuntu. This is a principle that promotes human solidarity. It recognises human responsibility towards the needs of others.
The principle of ubuntu must permeate all levels of society. It must be promoted in government, civil society, nongovernmental organisations, NGOs, the education system, and at justice and policy levels. This requires a strong developmental state with the capacity to mobilise economic resources. The ubuntu project could help create conditions for a caring society.
The ANC-led government remains committed to creating a united, cohesive society out of our fragmented past. As hon Comrade President Zuma once said:
As the ANC we committed to promoting unity in diversity and to developing a shared value system, based on the spirit of community solidarity and a caring society. Our shared value system should encourage us to become active citizens in the renewal of our country. We must build a common national identity and patriotism.
Ubuntu has always been the cornerstone of South African society whereby South Africans are united by one common objective - to help those who could not help themselves.
I would argue that the road towards social cohesion and development of a caring society requires transformation of economic and social relations. This type of transformation does not take us away from the route towards such a caring society. This articulation was affirmed in the 2007 Strategy and Tactics document.
In this regard, the national democratic revolution is about transforming the power relations that reproduced colonialism of a special type and that relate to subcultural expressions, alien cultures, subcultures and crass materialism.
Chairperson, the values of a just, caring society, including Ubuntu-Botho principles, should be integrally connected to social structure. Their success or failure could depend on the nature and task of society in terms of addressing priorities, such as levels of crime and corruption; unemployment and poverty; available decent jobs and social equity; and the degree of the wage and income gap.
In this regard, social cohesion and a caring society should be linked to building the infrastructural conditions for and development of a caring society. It should overcome the legacy of apartheid colonialism. We must change apartheid social geography, inequalities and uneven development and do so through a new economic growth path.
Our Strategy and Tactics document argues that a national democratic society should be founded on a growing economy. Accordingly, it could be an economy that promotes development and decent jobs in order to meet our government's seven priorities.
I believe that the values of a caring society, inspired by the traits of human compassion, informed our national struggle against national oppression. Indeed, the need to work together among all our people became relevant more than ever before in the 16 years of our democracy.
As the ANC, our premise should move from the understanding that comprehensive social transformation entails changing the socioeconomic conditions of all our people. In doing so, we should be inspired by values of collective solidarity. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon members and members of the public in the gallery, we would do well to remember that culture is not a static set of traditions and practices. Culture happens around us at this very moment. The lifestyles and habits of today will become the culture of tomorrow.
In this sense we can take great pride in how we have celebrated our heritage and come close to each other as a nation in the run-up and eventual hosting of the Fifa Soccer World Cup. South Africans of all walks of life took ownership of the event and together we forged a deeper sense of being united in our diversity.
The sense of togetherness and achievement in the wake of the event should inspire us to continue reaching for greatness on the world stage. July 2010 represents a significant marker on the road to nation-building and will be remembered as an important cultural occasion for many generations to come. The flip side of the same coin is that today we also face the danger of establishing many negative things as part of our culture because this have become common lifestyle choices and habits. Fast food, fast cars and fast money seem to be the sole motivation of many people, including many of the elite.
We need to resist this culture of conspicuous consumption and greed as well as inevitable corruption that is required to sustain it. This selfish lifestyle and predatory behaviour runs contrary to our most valued and commonly shared cultural values as captured by the word ubuntu.
Instead of promoting that central tenet of our heritage, namely that the individual prospers when the community prospers, there are too many people in power who are popularising the theory that the individual should prosper at the expense of the community.
Another disturbing trend that runs contrary to our heritage, but which threatens to become part of our culture, is language intolerance. Two years ago many of us warned that unwarranted and personal attacks on the Head of State will surely set the precedent for similar behaviour in future.
Today we already see this culture in certain quarters. That same reckless intolerance informed the wild abandon with which various factions in the ruling party and its partners have attacked each other and the media. It fuelled unnecessary and violent trends. [Time expired.]
Chair, living according to the values of a just and caring society is an awesome challenge! Most of us get this right to some degree at times - perhaps not the hon Mike Ellis - but the rest of us fall short a lot of the time.
Today my attention has been drawn to what I consider one of my shortcomings. I cringe a little at the idea that, as Jawaharlal Nehru says:
We are known by the way we treat our animals.
Collectively, as South Africans we should be more than cringing right now at the systematic destruction of our wildlife heritage, in particular rhino, through years of unprosecuted thieving, which erodes any facade of our being a caring society.
In April the Minister said a special national wildlife reaction unit was to be set up to combat the activities of organised crime syndicates engaged in the poaching of rhino horn.
With a total of 4 661 environmental crime cases reported nationally, there was a compelling case for the establishment of environmental courts with prosecutors and magistrates trained for environmental crimes.
Referring to water issues last month, she said that the launch of the first courts would be in the near future. Recent official reports accusing the chief operating officer of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency and the principal officer of the agency's provident fund of poaching rhino horn in the province point to the urgent need for these courts.
The World Wildlife Fund's African Rhino Programme has asked people to take action during this month to help protect our remaining rhino populations and also to support people like Gilberto Vicente, who was murdered in August, as they risk their lives daily against the sophisticated, ruthless and heavily armed international criminal gangs who run the illegal rhino horn trade.
The month will culminate in Make Noise for Rhinos Day, during which people are asked to blow their vuvuzelas at 13h00 on Wednesday, 22 September in a symbolic call on government to take this issue seriously, strengthen law enforcement and impose strict legal penalties as successful deterrents. Thank you. [Time expired.]
Madam Chairperson, hon members, this year we should all be celebrating the contribution of the Indian community to South African life. 2010 is the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first Indian indentured labourers in 1860.
According to research, some 152 000 people of Indian origin settled mainly in what is now KwaZulu-Natal, many as indentured labourers, others as free settlers, traders, artisans and farmers.
The subsequent discriminatory treatment and legislation lumped all the descendants of these immigrants together as one single racial category of Indians.
Research has shown that the diversity of these immigrants is an important part of their story. Hon Singh, I'm sure you will learn something. There were regional and language differences, for instance, between the Northern Hindi speakers and the Southern Tamil or Telugu speakers, which differences were themselves overlain by differences in religion with Hindu, Muslim and Christian adherents.
The very economic success of these Indian settlers in liberating themselves from indentured servitude and poverty played a part in the subsequent racialised conflict in KwaZulu-Natal. The competition for land and trading opportunities that led to the imposition of the now notorious Group Areas Act had a huge and destructive effect on Indian communities and the psychological scars are still felt today.
If we are going to be a just and caring society we need to acknowledge this. Their story of disposition and removal is one that needs to be recorded and respected if we are to truly demonstrate a respect for our heritage. The oral history of individuals and communities need to be captured as part of our cultural heritage as a nation and to heal the hurts of the past.
The story of loss and alienation is not the full story of that community either. Their contribution to the political, economic and religious life of this country has been enormous. The struggle for democracy and the adoption of the 1996 Constitution would have been very different had it not been for the values of respect for persons in law, tolerance and the sanctity of life which the Hindu and Muslim spiritual traditions both emphasised.
To promote a democratic respect for heritage also means ensuring the availability and accessibility of cultural artefact. We are learning rapidly, for example, that cultural heritage is not only a democratic obligation and part of a tradition preserving the legacy of the past, but it is also big business.
The interest in cultural heritage translates into a growing market for heritage tourism. To provide access to our different cultural traditions is the challenge for our heritage managers. Within my own constituency of Pietermaritzburg, there is a modestly-sized municipal art gallery, the Tatham. The handful of staff have embarked on a project to place its entire catalogued art collection on the internet. Nearly half of the whole collection, some 600 works, have over a period of six years now been photographed and digitalised for public web access. That is achieving their mission of heritage outreach. The point is: How much do we value having such a project and why are the council and its staff having to conduct such a valuable exercise with their resources?
Making heritage accessible to all and selling it as an attractive tourist commodity is part of ensuring its commercial viability. It means that all our spheres of government need to seize on the opportunities which are presented and to market our nation and our heritage.
When the Victorian architectural jewel, which is the centre of Pietermaritzburg, is allowed to decay into grime and neglect because of the position of its municipal finances, we should all be worried. When this happens because of the factional infighting of elements within the ruling ANC, who have been carrying out a fratricidal struggle for over three or four years, this is a public disgrace.
Respecting heritage means practising the virtues of good governance, and this is something the ANC in Maritzburg has to learn the hard way. That is not the way we go about cultivating justice and a caring society. Thank you. [Applause.]
Mudzulatshidulo, Nn?u i ?honifheaho na vhueni hashu vhu re ngei kha vhugalatenga, ndi masiari. [Chairperson, hon members and our visitors sitting in the gallery, good afternoon.]
Through the colonial and apartheid years ...
... vhathu vhashu vho pfiswa u vhavha lune vho vha vha sa ?ivhi zwauri musi hu tshi pfi u muthu, ho vha hu tshi vha ho vhonwa mini kha iwe. Hezwo zwithu zwo?he zwo ?o ri sia ri songo tsha vha vha mashudu nga tshenetsho tshifhinga. Vhuthu hashu a ri ngo kona u vhu sumbedza, sa zwine ra khou zwi vhona ?amusi. Muvhuso wa tshi?alula na makoloni e a vha e hone, vho ri tambudza zwi vhavhaho vhukuma.
Fhedzi-ha, u ?a ha demokirasi ya Afurika Tshipembe, zwo sia ri tshi vho kona u vha na zwiimiswa zwine ra vho vhonala ngazwo. Izwo zwo sumbedza ?ivhazwakale, n?ila ya u ?honifha na vhufa ha vhadzulapo vho?he. Ri nga bveledza vhukoni hashu ho?he u itela uri ri sa tsha thivheliwa kha zwine ra tea u tshilisa zwone.
?ivhazwakale ya vhathu vhashu, yo sumbedza n?ila i si yone. Vho vha vha tshi nyadziwa na u dzhiiwa vha si vha ndeme. Ngauri zwa zwino shango ?ashu ?o vhofholowa, ?i vho ?ivha-vho zwauri musi hu tshi pfi Muven?a hu khou ambiwa mini. Ri vho zwi ?ivha zwauri musi hu tshi pfi muthu u amba Tshitshangana kana TshiXhosa, u tea u ambara nga n?ila-?e. Mvelele yawe i tea u ?honifhiwa. Hezwo zwithu zwo?he zwo ?isa phambano. Mbofholowo yo ?ela u ri ?u?uwedza uri ri ite ngauralo.
Vhukoni vhune ra vha naho, ho ?iswa nga mbofholowo. Hu na ?hanziela dza uri vho zwi gudelaho vha kone u zwi vhona zwauri muthu arali a tshi tshila e kha zwa hawe, u a lelutshelwa nga zwithu zwo?he. Ifa ?ene?o ?e ra ?i ?ewa, ?ine vha?we na u ?i vhona a vha ?i vhoni, ?i bva kha vhomakhulukuku vhashu, u itela uri ri sale ri tshi ya phan?a na vhutshilo. Vho ri ifa i?o, ?i bvele phan?a u bva kha mirafho u ya kha mi?we, u itela uri ri vhe na vhu?ikukumusi kha zwithu zwo?he.
Zwine ra zwi ?ivha ndi zwauri, musi ri tshi kha ?i aluwa, ho vha hu na zwine vhathu vhashu vha zwi ?ivha sa ifa ?a u tshila, ?ine ?a ?a na maitele a matshilisano, ane a vha dzi ... (Translation of Tshivenda paragraphs follows.)
[... our people had to endure a system that deprived them of their sense of identity and continuity. This deprived us of our worthiness at that time. We never expressed our sense of being in the way we do today. The apartheid regime and the colonists treated us very badly.
However, the dawn of democracy in South Africa gave birth to institutions that display our identity, that showed the history, a way of respect and the legacy of all citizens. We can develop all our potential so that nothing can hinder us from living a better life.
The history of our people had shown the wrong path. They were disrespected and undermined. Now that our country has been liberated, it recognises a black person. We now know that if a person speaks Xitsonga or isiXhosa, which traditional attire they should wear. Their culture must be respected. All these things brought diversity. Freedom has come to encourage us to do likewise.
The ability we have was brought about by liberation. There is confirmation from the experts that if a person lives according to his culture all things become easier. This legacy was given by our forefathers for us to continue with life. They said this legacy must pass on from one generation to another so that we may have pride in everything. When we were growing up, there were things that our people knew as the legacy of life that prescribe the way of living, which are ...]
... worship rights, rights of passage, birth rights, wedding and funeral rituals, oaths of allegiance, traditional legal systems and ritual kinship ceremonies.
Zwo?he zwo vha zwi si nga si vhonale arali hu songo vha na mbofholowo ye ra fhira khayo. Ri na mvelele dzine dza tea u sumbedza n?ivho dzine ra vha nadzo. Ndi musi ri tshi kona u amba nga luambo lwashu, u fana na zwino ndi tshi khou amba. Tshifhingani tsha kale nyambo nnzhi dzo vha dzi sa pfali. Wo vha u tshi ri u amba Tshiven?a, Tshitshangana kana TshiZulu, wa vhonala sa tshi?aela tshi sa koni u amba luambo. U vha tshi?aela nga n?ila-?e u tshi khou amba luambo lwau lwa ?amuni?
Ro vhuya ra gudiswa na u amba tshivhuru. Hu tshi pfi ... (Translation of Tshivenda paragraphs follows.)
[All these things would have never happened were it not because of the liberation that we achieved. We have cultures that reflect our knowledge; for instance, when we speak our mother tongue, like I am doing right now. In the past most languages were unknown. If you spoke Tshivenda, Xitsonga or isiZulu, you looked like a fool who did not know how to speak the language. How could one be stupid when one speaks one's own mother tongue?
We were even taught to speak Afrikaans. They said ...]
... jy lieg soos 'n koerant. Nou lyk dit asof die koerant nie meer lieg nie ... [... you are lying like a newspaper. Now it seems as if the newspaper is not lying anymore ...]
... ngauri i sokou amba zwe ya sa vhudziswe.
Hu na n?ivho ine musi ri tshi khou tshila, ra tea u i tsireledza. (Translation of Tshivenda sentences follows.)
[... because it just says things which were never asked.
There is some knowledge that we should protect in life.]
We also have traditional craftsmanship and herbal medicine ...
... hune ra wana hu na miri ya tshirema, ine ya tea u sumbedziwa u itela uri ni kone u alafhiwa nga tshirema. Vhathu vhashu vha ?ivha vhu?anga ha mishonga yo raloho. Hezwo zwithu zwo vha zwo dzidzivhala, ri tshi vho tshila zwi si tsheho, ngauri n?ivho yashu yo vha yo bwelwa fhasi, nahone vhathu vhashu vha si tsha ?ivha zwine vha khou ita zwone.
Arali ri sa koni u lwa nndwa ya u ?ivhofholola, ?amusi ro vha ri tshi ?o pfi vho nnyi? Ro vha ri tshi ?o vha ri sa ?ivhei. U fhambana ha mvelele hu tea u dzhielwa n?ha ngauri hu ita uri ri gude khadzo. Zwithu zwine ra zwi ita, ri a kona u alusana ngazwo. Zwa zwino ri vho kona u tshilisana sa vhathu vha Afurika Tshipembe ngauri ri khou shumisa yenei?a n?ivho ye ra i ?ewa nga vhomakhulukuku washu. Vho ri rathisela n?ivho ya vhufa, u itela uri ri kone u tshila sa vhathu vha ?ikukumusaho nga zwine vha vha nazwo.
Kha guvhangano ?a vhu 52, ANC yo ?ivhofha na u ?u?uwedza vhathu vha Afurika Tshipembe uri vha farane, hu sa vhe na tshi?alula nga muvhala, nga mbeu na zwo?he zwine ra nga ?alulana ngazwo. ANC yo ombedzela uri hezwo zwithu zwo?he, zwi songo vha hone. Rine ro dzula ra zwi vhona zwauri ndi ngoho ri khou tea u vha vhathu vhathihi vha tshilisanaho. Mvelele dzashu dzi tea u sumbedzisa uri ndi zwifhio zwine ra fana ngazwo ngauri dzi a ?angana vhukati. Hezwi zwi sia ri tshi kona u tshila sa vhathu, ri tshi humbula zwe vhomakhulukuku vhashu vha ri siela zwone uri ri zwi shumise na matshelo.
Ngauri hei?a n?ivho yo shumiswaho mulovha, ri khou tea u i shumisa ?amusi, matshelo, na kha tshakha dzi ?aho, u itela uri hune ra dzula hone hu vhofholowe. Ri tea u kona u amba nyambo dzashu na u tevhedzela vhurereli hashu ri sa tsha imiwa phan?a. Makoloni na tshi?alula zwo ?a zwa ri fhambanya, ngeno ri vhadzulapo vha Afurika Tshipembe ro?he. [U vhanda zwan?a.]
Ri songo tenda u lu?anywa nga ?ifhedzi. Ri?e ri a zwi ?ivha zwauri musi ri tshi tshila sa vhathu vhathihi, ri vha na mulalo nahone ri a kona u ?ha?ulana mihwalo kha zwithu zwinzhi. Hezwo zwithu ro zwi gudiswa nga vhomakhulukuku washu. Ri tea u dzula ri tshi funana ngauri mulalo ndi ifa. U nga balelwa u tshila nga mulalo arali wo gudiswa u tshila ngawo? Arali wo fun?edzwa u funa muhura wau u nga balewa, ngeno Bivhili yo ?i tou zwi amba? (Translation of Tshivenda paragraphs follows.) [... where we find indigenous plants which we must preserve for traditional healing and medicines. Our people have knowledge of these traditional healing practices. These practices had faded and we were living without them because our knowledge was buried and our people didn't know what they were doing.
If we did not fight to liberate ourselves, where would we be today? We would be unknown to the world. Diverse cultures need to be taken very seriously because we learn from them. Things which we do provide common ground for the promotion of mutual understanding and enriching one another. We are now able to live together as people of South Africa because we are using the same knowledge which we inherited from our forefathers. They have passed the knowledge of heritage to us so that we are able to live with pride and embrace what we have.
At its 52nd National Conference, the ANC committed itself and encouraged the people of South Africa to unite, and not to discriminate on the basis of colour, gender and other things which we may use to discriminate against each other. The ANC emphasised that all these should not happen. We have realised the need to unite and to live together. Our cultures must display their commonality since they have similarities. This makes us to live as a people, remembering the heritage which our forefathers left behind for us to embrace even in future.
The knowledge used by our forefathers should be used now, in future and by future generations to ensure freedom. We should be able to speak our languages and to observe our religions freely. The colonialists and apartheid systems have separated us, while we are all citizens of South Africa. [Applause.]
Let us not allow anyone to stir up enmity and discord among us for nothing. We know that when we live together as one, we have peace and we are able to carry each other's burdens. We have learned this from our forefathers. We must always love one another because peace is a legacy. How can you fail to live in peace if you have been taught to do so? If you have been taught to love your neighbour, how can you fail, when even the Bible said so?]
The Bible says:
Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
Hezwo zwithu ro zwi gudiswa nga vhomakhulukuku washu. Vho ri vhudza uri ri tea u tshila nga yeneyo n?ila. Ro zwi pfa a si kale, musi Minisi?a Vho Lulu Xingwana vha tshi ri vhudza uri bola yashu, ine ya kha ?i tou bva u vha hone zwenezwino, yo ri ?anganya. Arali i ngoho zwauri mvelele i ya kona u ?anganya vhathu, ri khou kona u zwi vhona ngauri ro vha ro vhuisa ?ifhasi ?o?he fhano. Afurika a i ngo vhuya naa? ?ifhasi a ?i ngo vhuya? ?o vhuiswa ngauri ro vha ri tshi khou kovhekana dzimvelele. Zwithu zwo vha mvumvusaho, zwo vha zwithu zwa mvelele. Na zwino vha ri vha funa u vhuya ngauri Afurika Tshipembe ndi shango ?avhu?i ?i tshileaho kha?o. Vha ri fhano hu a ?ifha nahone vhathu vha hone vha na vhuthu.
Hu na phungo yo iswaho nga vho ria?ivha musi vha tshi vho sokou amba zwithu zwi sa itwi nga vhathu vha fhano Afurika Tshipembe. Vha tshimbila vha tshi amba uri hu ?o vha na vhavhambadza-mivhili vha swikaho mi?ioni mbili vhane vha ?o ?a fhano.
O vha a si mazwifhi ayo? Izwo zwithu zwi sumbedza tshumisano? Ri?e a ri ngo vhuya ra vha vhona ngauri ro gudiswa uri ri vhe na vhuthu, ri hulisane na u ?honifhana. Vha kha ?i ?o vhuya kha ?ino shango ngauri vho zwi vhona uri mvelele ya fhano Afurika Tshipembe ndi ya matshilisano avhu?i.
Kha zwa vhubindudzi, musi vhathu vha tshi ita zwithu zwavho, ri?e ri ?i ?ongisa nga dzi satellite dish dzashu. Khedzi vha tshi khou dzi vhona. [Maseo.] [U vhanda zwan?a.] Hezwo zwithu zwi sumbedza mvelele. Vhakalaha na vhakegulu khevhala vho ambara vho tou ?itama. A vha tamisi? U tou vhona makhulu wau vho fara zwone-zwone zwine rine ra tea u fara khazwo.
Ndo ita na u vhudza vha?we uri ndi kale Vhaven?a vha tshi ?ivha thekino?odzhi. Satellite dish dzi tshi ?a, ri?e ro vha ro no vha nadzo. [Maseo.] Hezwo zwo vha zwi tshi khou sumbedza zwauri vhudavhidzani na ma?we mashango zwo vha zwi hone ngauri ri na vhuthu nahone ri a kona u tshila na vha?we vhathu.
Nga aneo maipfi, ndi khou livhuwa u kovhekana, u kunguwedza na u pembelela vhufa ha mvelele vhune ra khou ?itongisa ngaho ?amusi. Ndi a livhuwa. [U vhanda zwan?a.] (Translation of Tshivenda paragraphs follows.)
[We have learned this from our forefathers. They taught us to live this way. We heard Minister Lulu Xingwana telling us about how our Soccer World Cup that took place not long ago united us. It is true that culture unites people, we can see that we brought the whole world here. Was Africa not united? Was the world not united? It was united because we were sharing our cultures. They were entertained by cultural activities. They said they want to come back because South Africa is a beautiful country to live in. They said it is nice here and people have humanity.
There was some rumour by some journalist saying bad things about South Africa. They spread the rumour that there would be more than two million prostitutes coming to this country.
Was that not a lie? Does this show co-operation? We did not see them because we were taught humanity, honour and respect. They will come back to this country because they saw that South African cultures are good.
In business, when people do their things, we are proud of our "satellite dish", mapala beads - thick strands of cotton with beadwork, worn around the neck by girls/women. Here they are. [Laughter.] [Applause.] These things display culture. Old people are dressed nicely in their traditional attire. Are they not admirable? To see you grandparent preserve culture like this, as we are suppose to.
I even told others that the Vhavenda people know technology. When satellite dishes were introduced, we already had them. [Laughter.] These indicated that we had communication with other countries.
With these words, I am grateful to share, to encourage and to celebrate the heritage of culture, which we are all proud of today. I thank you. [Applause.]]
House Chairperson, hon members, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, it is my honour to wrap up this important debate today. This debate reminded us that as a nation we should continue striving to build a better, more humane and caring society. These values are enshrined in our Constitution.
We urge all of our people to continue building a culture of democracy, social justice and fundamental human rights. As a nation, we have just managed to host a very successful World Cup. The Minister indicated earlier on that we will be celebrating Heritage Day in Durban under the theme: "Celebrating the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup Successes: Our Heritage".
Let us remind ourselves that, as we will be celebrating our Heritage Day on 24 September 2010, we just came from a very successful month where we celebrated together with the Moral Regeneration Movement. We are once more calling on all our people to continue promoting values of ubuntu, where we should say be saying: "I am because you are".
As a nation, during the World Cup, we once more demonstrated the true meaning of ubuntu to all those who were visiting our country. We did this by opening our hearts and arms to our visitors, proving to the whole world that we were indeed a caring, warm and loving nation.
Our immediate task is to sustain the positive momentum we built up during the World Cup, both in word and in action. We must continue to work towards a more cohesive society that is just and caring.
We must also sustain the spirit of patriotism and national pride that was so evident during the World Cup. This, amongst other things, requires that we should continue to fly the South African flag and popularise our national symbols. Therefore, it is fitting that, as this House, we should decide how we are going to sustain the gains we made during the World Cup.
As we continue, we should build on the culture of hard work, better planning and working together. You know that the success of the World Cup happened because of the collective efforts of our people who worked together, irrespective of their diverse cultures. They ensured that we were focused and that the World Cup became a big success.
Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity today to thank hon members for all the good suggestions that they have made, because as the Department of Arts and Culture we are going to continue building on this big success. We will continue celebrating South Africa's living human treasures - the custodians of our intangible cultural heritage.
We know that there are many experiences in our communities. We have many heroes who are busy coming forward with many initiatives. They would like to ensure that they are exposed and that South Africa can celebrate its diverse culture together. We should make sure that, indeed, we build a better country and a united nation.
I also want to thank our mothers who came all the way from Limpopo today. We would like to say to them, "Thank you for showing us that South Africa is indeed a beautiful country." [Applause.]
Ndi madekwana. [Good evening.]
A lot has been said this evening. We would like to urge you to continue working together like you did during the World Cup. Let us make sure that we hold hands and continue building the culture of sharing, respect and hard work. As a nation, let us continue ensuring that we are moving forward.
Therefore, I wish you all happy Heritage Day celebrations. We are hoping to see all of you in Durban on 24 September 2010. Let us all come to celebrate and work together to build a successful nation. I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
USIHLALO WENDLU (Nk M N Oliphant): Sibonge kuSekela Ngqongqoshe, uSekela Ngqongqoshe ubesephothula ingxoxompikiswano ngakho-ke siyileNdlu sifuna ukwengeza ekutheni siyabonga ukuthi omama nobaba bethu bezile ukuzoba yingxenye yale ngxoxompikiswano ebikhona namhlanje kulesi Sishayamthetho. Sikholelwa ukuthi nangokuzayo bazophinde babuye futhi. Malungu ahloniphekile, umsebenzi wosuku sesiwuphothile, ngakho-ke iNdlu iyaguqa. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M N Oliphant): Thank you, Deputy Minister. The Deputy Minister was wrapping up the debate, therefore, as members of this House, we would like to add that we are grateful that the high-ranking officials came to be part of this debate which took place here today in the National Assembly. We believe that they will come again in future. Hon members, we have accomplished the day's work, therefore the House is adjourned.]