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Heritage day celebrations
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Sports, Arts Culture

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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
 SPEECH BY MEC BALINDLELA
AT THE HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATIONS,
 SONDELA YOUTH FESTIVAL, ALIWAL NORTH
24 SEPTEMBER  2000



Master of Ceremonies
 Members of the Provincial Legislature present
 Honourable Mayors and Councillors
 Representatives of Government Departments
 Representatives of institutions and associations
 Representatives of Companies and business that sponsored parts of Sondela Festival
 Members of the community
 Sons and daughters of the Beautiful Province of the Eastern Cape

Greetings !

I am bringing to you warm greetings from the Honourable Premier of the Province of the Eastern Cape, Rev Makhenkesi Stofile, who cannot be 
with us today due to his impending trip to China. May we all wish this delegation to China, which is led by our Premier a resounding 
political and economic success.

Introduction

Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have gathered here today, on the banks of the Great Orange River, in the historic town of Aliwal 
North which is a tourist centre of the Northern Region of our Province, and a gateway into the Province of the Eastern Cape.We have 
descended upon this town to make a difference to all the people of this region, young and old.

In line with the strategic objectives of the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and the Provincial Government of focusing on 
the development of the youth and the disabled persons, the Department initiated the formulation of projects that focus on the youth.This 
gave birth to the Sondela Youth Festival, which has grown from small beginnings to a Provincial status.

Also in line with the strategic objective of the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and the entire Government of the 
Province of the Eastern Cape, of focussing on nation building and the reconstruction and development of the socio-politic-economic 
relations of the diverse people of our Province, the Department initiated the celebration of national days, including the Heritage Day 
which falls on the 24th September each year.

This date, which used to, during the Apartheid era, divide our people according to racial lines, was transformed by the new democratic 
government into a day for reconciliation and national unity. This date was set aside for celebration of the rich cultural diversity of our 
country, which is a great asset to our Province. Our as this cultural heritage has a potential of bringing more tourists and by implication 
economic development to our Province of the Eastern Cape.

We wish to thank the Executive Council which allowed the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture to hold both the Sondela Youth 
Festival and Heritage Day Celebrations here at Aliwal North.We would like to make an earnest appeal to the people of Aliwal North, and the 
Northern Region in general, to take this challenge by the Provincial government, and start projects and programmes that seek to develop the 
economy of this area. This objective will never be achieved if we fail to invest in the youth which is the future of this country.

Promoting Multilingualism In South Africa

Section 6 of the Constitution contains most of the provisions pertaining to language matters in South Africa.Section 6 (1) recognises 
eleven official languages : Sepedi, seSotho, Setswana, English, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, and isiZulu, 
which were marginalised in the past.

Master of ceremonies, Ladies and Gentlemen, the theme of this year’s heritage day celebrations is “Promoting multilingualism in South 
Africa”. The rationale behind the promotion of multilingualism for heritage day 2000, is the awareness about the opportunities and the 
significant contribution that languages and literature can present,in the social development of the people of Province.

Section 6 (2) of the Constitution requires mechanisms to be put in place to develop these indigenous languages.Section 6 (3) and (4) 
contains language-related provisions for national and provincial governments. They may use any of the official languages for the purpose of 
government, taking into account usage, practicality, expense regional circumstances and the balance of the needs and preferences of the 
population as a whole or of the province concerned. The national government and each provincial government must use at least one or more of 
the official languages.

The Bill of Rights in the Constitution recognises language as a basic human right :

Everyone has the 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 inconsistent with any provision of the Bill of Rights (section 30).

The Pan South African Language Board (PANSALB) was established in April 1996 in terms of the Pan South African Language Board Act (Act 
No.59 of 1995). The Pan South African Language Board Amendment Act (Act No. 10 of 1999) was published on 21 April 1999.

It is against this background that the Provincial Language Committee was established. The Province of the Eastern Cape would like to place 
on record its gratitude to the Provincial Language Committee for the good work that they have done for the Province of the Eastern Cape, of 
drafting the Provincial Language Bill.

The Department would wish to inform the people of the Province that with the assistance of the State Law Advisors, and the Standing 
Committee for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, the Language Bill will be legislated before the end of this session of the Provincial 
legislature.

Conclusion

Master of ceremonies, Ladies and Gentlemen may we all enjoy the remaining activities of the Heritage Day Celebrations and the Sondela Youth 
Festival. Please attend the cultural performance in the different venues of the town.View the “Apho sisuka khona” and “Robben Island” 
Exhibitions at the College Campus. The Libraries and Archives and exhibition is also located at that venue. Also view the exhibitions in 
the tents within the stadium.Enjoy the remaining sport and cultural activities which represent the rich and diverse culture of the entire 
Province of the Eastern Cape.

Once more thank you to the kind sponsors who have made a significant contribution to the success of this event. Umhlobo wenene, Telkom, 
Transnet and Sasko. We would also wish to thank our Provincial Arts and Culture Council for their good work in the Province of the Eastern 
Cape.

I thank you all for gracing this 2000 Heritage Day Celebrations and the Sondela Festival.

Sisonke Sinako ! Together we can !

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