Chairperson, Ministers, Deputy Minister, staff from the Department of Arts and Culture and colleagues, the DA envisions a South Africa in which all citizens treasure their South African identity and feel part of one cohesive nation. At the same time, they feel free to shape their individual identities in terms of culture, language and religion.
Finding ways to forge a national identity, given our fragmented past of colonialism and apartheid, has always been central to the success of the new South Africa. When every citizen feels ardently South African, we will function as a productive, collaborative, caring nation of people who support each other and work together.
At the same time, this common identity is forged from a multitude of different cultures. Because every South African is a unique collection of identities, not simply a representative of a racial, linguistic, religious or cultural group, it is imperative that we promote and protect the right to individual expression. The DA champions the causes of diversity and pluralism, as these add to the diverse intangible wealth of our country. A sense of identity cannot be imposed on citizens. It will not simply emerge overnight. Rather, we must put policies in place that will lay the foundations for the development of a strong, united South African nation in the future.
The DA has located seven key areas on which to focus its efforts with regard to promoting the growth of an inclusive national identity, and they are education, media, the arts, heritage, language, public participation and the nurturing of diversity. The development and implementation of effective policies in these areas specifically will contribute to the growth of a unified nation, united in diversity around a shared South African identity.
With regard to the nurturing of diversity, Minister, let's look at public holidays and national awards belonging to all. A country's public holidays and national awards are meant to reflect its achievements and heritage, but currently South Africa's public holidays are largely political events that make no contribution to building a common sense of national identity. [Interjections.]
While it is positive to laud South Africa's peaceful transition following apartheid, the intended effect of these holidays should be to unite us and not divide us. The focus of our country's public holidays should shift from commemorating past events to celebrating South Africa's past, present and future.
The DA believes that public holidays should celebrate our achievements as a composite nation, not simply those of a select group or groups. We should support the establishment of a South Africa Day, a national holiday like those in many other countries around the world. The purpose of the day will be to celebrate all things South African and encourage national pride in all citizens, irrespective of their background.
With regard to heritage, if South Africa is to become a home for all its citizens, the heritage of all who have contributed to its development needs to be acknowledged. That means that the heritage of each South African is the heritage of the whole country. The DA recognises four categories of heritage sites: monuments, museums, archives and place names. Monuments have the ability to bring past events into our present experience, serving as a link between our history and contemporary times. They can acknowledge the contribution of different South African individuals and groups and commemorate significant events, uniting citizens as they remind us of the turbulent past we have weathered and our accomplishments as a nation.
In providing our people with material evidence of their history and their environment, South African museums can play a vital role in the expression of our country's complex history. And, Minister, you know by now that I have a passion for the Robben Island Museum, and may I say at this point that you should give South Africans the guarantee that you will fix whatever is broken at the Robben Island Museum.
May I quote from Mr Mandela when he spoke on Heritage Day in 1997, when he said, "The island, a place of pain and banishment for centuries and now of triumph ..." - without question the harshest, most iron-fisted outpost in the South African penal system - "a symbol of the victory of the human spirit over political oppression and of reconciliation over enforced division." The island has become a monument to the struggle for democracy, part of a heritage that will always inspire our children and our friends from other lands. Therefore you have to fix it.
The records and documents housed in South Africa's archives have the power to teach us about our history and identities. The preservation of and access to public records is of critical importance in the building of democracy as archives function as enablers of continuity, consistency and effectiveness in human action.
The names given to South Africa's streets, buildings and natural features should affirm and reflect our heritage and identities. A legacy of apartheid is that some place names are offensive and demeaning to those who suffered as a result of the oppressive system. But also vitally important is that people and events in our history have been ignored.
The possibility exists that these heritage sites will do more harm than good if they are poorly managed and if they are misused for political or ideological purposes. Allowing them to become run-down will lead to a devastating loss of knowledge and information about our heritage. Imposing a specific doctrine will result in their becoming little more than propaganda tools. The DA believes that the proper management of these sites is essential to the positive development of South Africans' national identity.
Ter afsluiting, as 'n ware nasie, kan Suid-Afrikaners nie weer by 'n geleentheid soos by die opening van die Konfederasiebeker-sokkertoernooi gesien word waar ons saamstaan en die Suid-Afrikaners teenwoordig nie eers die woorde van ons eie volkslied ken nie. U, as die beskermheer van ons nasionale simbole, behoort u ten sterkste uit te spreek teen Fifa en andere wat vir ons land, asook ander lande, kom vertel dat ons ons nasionale volkslied moet verkort. Dit is onaanvaarbaar en dit bou nie 'n nasie nie. Ek dank u. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[In conclusion, as a true nation, South Africans must not again be seen at an event like the opening of the Confederations Cup soccer tournament where we stand together and those South Africans present do not even know the words of our own national anthem. You, as the custodian of our national symbols, should express yourself strongly against Fifa and others who want to tell our country - and other countries - that we have to shorten our national anthem. It is unacceptable and it does not build a nation. I thank you. [Applause.]]