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Heritage Day celebrations
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Premier's Office

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EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER OF THE EASTERN CAPE,

REVEREND M.A. STOFILE, ON THE OCCASION OF

HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATIONS

24 SEPTEMBER 1999





Mr Master of Ceremonies,
 Honoured guests, Chiefs, Mayors,
 members of the Provincial Legislature,
 Community organisations, Government officers,
 Ladies and Gentlemen.




It is my pleasure and great honour to be invited to this historic event, which is a culmination of the Heritage Month celebrations that 
took place throughout the Country. The five regions of this Province, are today, also celebrating their rich and diverse Heritage.

1. THE RICH AND DIVERSE HERITAGE

The Heritage Day is one of the most significant days in the year calender, as it offers an opportunity for all of us to reflect upon the 
unfolding socio politico-cultural and economic developments in our country, to identify their causes, and to use the experience to 
formulate an informed and accurate projection into the future. This is an opportunity to expose the rich and diverse cultural heritage of 
this Province, and to devise strategies that will guarantee its development, its preservation and conservation.

Master of Ceremonies, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is crucial for us to understand the meaning of the heritage day celebrations. The 24th of 
September was marked in the calendar of the old regime as Tshaka Day. With the ushering in of the new democratic, non-racial and non-sexist 
government, which is led by the African National Congress, in November 1994, the 24th of September was liberated and transformed into a day 
of reconciliation, and nation-building. It is intended to build unity amongst our people irrespective of race colour or creed. A date which 
in the past was used to emphasise ethnicity and racialism, and was used to celebrate humiliation of one section of our community, was 
liberated and given a new aura by our new democratic government.

2. THE DEEPER MEANING

Heritage day marks a very important milestone in the history of the struggle for liberation in South Africa. For centuries the vast 
majority of the people of South Africa were deprived of their humanity. The most intensive and extensive forms of oppression and 
exploitation destroyed the cultural fabric and the identity of our people. People went astray, they forgot who they are. The tree was 
divorced from its roots.

Thanks to the undying human spirit which refused to surrender to evil forces of darkness, and pursued the struggle for liberation, and 
freedom from apartheid and its draconian laws of oppression and exploitation.

We have converged here today to ensure and to guarantee the fulfilment of one of the most important clauses of our Freedom Charter which 
says

"The doors of culture and learning shall be open to all".

We have gathered here today to pledge that never again will ethnicity and racism be allowed to ravage and destroy our beloved South Africa.

3. A RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE

Historians see the Eastern Cape, especially the Kouga region as a frontier or zone of interaction between San hunter-gatherers, Khoekhoe 
pasto lists and the Mfengu (African) chiefdom. Later in history it also became the meeting grounds of the Trekboers and English Settlers.

The Klasies River caves, not far from Humansdorp, is where the worlds first "modern" human beings (Humo spaien sapien - forebears of 
Khoisan) emerged some 120 000 years ago. The adjacent Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area (BWA) was probably the last landscape in South Africa 
that the Khoisan occupied. It is said that the BWA is also South Africas old mummy in the Kouga mountains yielded a turning point in the 
ongoing efforts to rediscover the true cultural depth of Khoisan.

By the end of the 19th century the Khoisan were killed, acculturated and assimilated into colonial society.. The descendants of nearly all 
the Khoekhoe (Khoikhoi) now form part of the multi-racial Afrikaans speaking population in South Africa. The small remainder of the San 
people who survived now live in reserves in Kalahari Desert in Botswana.

The nature and content of the Khoisan histories and their identities remain controversial and contested. The extensive social and political 
changes in South Africa since 1994 have created new opportunities for redressing past injustices. A recent international conference held in 
Cape Town brought together members of the public, academics and Khoisan people so that they can come to a closer understanding of one 
anothers viewpoints.

This gathering provided opportunities for Khoisan people to express their concerns, needs and achievements, for academics to share their 
knowledge about the Khoisan past, and for members of the public to participate in open discussions. This stimulated a sense of shared 
responsibility for the promotion of Khoisan heritage, so that Khoisan explorations can continue to grow and flourish.

This area should capitalise on this strength which has a potential of bringing economic benefits to the people.

4. A NATION AT WORK FOR A BETTER LIFE

The theme of the 1999 celebrations 1is "A nation at work for a better life"

It is a stirring call - a call which the people of our Province, with their rich history of struggle and progress, cannot ignore.

It is critical, as we commemorate Heritage Day, that we acknowledge and embrace our own various cultural identities. We must be proud of 
where we come as individuals, and recognise the role we and our ancestors may have played, in whatever way.

Ours is a Province rich in cultural diversity, and we must acknowledge this publicity. We must celebrate our heritage, whoever we are.

But secondly, and more importantly, we must acknowledge the tremendous achievement of what is now universally regarded as " the South 
Africa miracle". Here I am referring to the historic coming together of our various cultures in the creation of this new nation of ours.

It is a coming together which began with the historic democratic elections of 1994, and which was consolidated in the second democratic 
elections just three months ago.

It was after those elections that the nation of "A nation at work for a better life" was born.

But what does it really mean?

For us as government , it means we must play an active role in the promotion and protection of cultural, linguistic and religious rights of 
all our people. This is important to acknowledge, particularly as our new democracy still bears the marks of fragility and newness.

In addition, we have to ensure that no-one feels a sense of alienation. In particular, we have to restore the dignity of those who were 
denied their identity in the past - such as the Khoi and the San people who roamed on broad country, and this Province centuries ago.

We have to restore the pride and identity of all the people. We must advance the dignity of all our citizens and ensure we continue to 
build on our efforts towards national reconciliation and nation building.

Our provincial government is already working closely with traditional leaders to ensure they continue to play a meaning full role in our 
system of governance. We are also working closely with those in the cultural and artistic field to ensure they take their rightful place 
within the rich tapestry that constitutes our diverse being as a people.

This will be an important contribution to our efforts to wipe out the legacies of racism and sexism, which continue to afflict our society.

As South Africans, as proud citizens of the Eastern Cape, you also have a role to play: in understanding our joint Heritage, in embracing 
those of other cultures, and in working together to ensure we build a better life for all.

This means paying particular attention to the plight of poor, and who have been marginalised by our brutal past: the disabled, women, the 
Youth - all of whom are critical constituents in this proud nation of ours.

We must put the issue affecting the disadvantaged at the top of our own personal agendas. We must go out of our way to ensure their issues 
become our issues, and that we work together to find solutions. This give true meaning to the concept of a nation at work for a better 
life.

If we succeeded, todays celebrations will encapsulate the spirit of partnership among South Africans in action to improve their conditions 
of life.It will be a memorable day for all of us, and will mark one more milestone in the building of a better South Africa for all.

5. AN INVITATION TO ALL AND SUNDRY

The Government of the Province of the Eastern Cape wishes to extend an invitation to all and sundry to close ranks with government to 
ensure that the goal of a better life for all is realised soon. Our communities have waited so long, they cannot wait any longer. Basic 
services of water, housing and electricity are long overdue.

Whilst we can ensure the Province that the growth and development strategy of our government is on course, we would however wish to 
emphatically state that it is with the concerted effort of every individual and all political, social, educational and economic structures 
of the civil society that the goals of the government of the Eastern Cape will be realised.

May you enjoy the Heritage Day Celebrations.

I thank you

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