Tolerance for one another’s heritage can only make South Africa a stronger and richer nation. That is the impassioned call that was made at Heritage Day Celebrations at the Ga-Ramokgopa Stadium in Mokomene village north-east of Polokwane, Limpopo.
This appeal was further echoed by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa during his keynote address at the colourful event in the dusty village.
Referring to a Xibelani Tsonga multicultural group that gripped the attention of the crowds in attendance with a white woman as a member of the group, Ramaphosa says such initiatives should be embraced and encouraged.
“What we saw earlier, the diversity at play, where a Tsonga group had a white woman dancing with them, is precisely what we want to see happening in our country. We are calling upon everyone to embrace one another’s culture, to learn each other’s languages, to further the call for social cohesion.
“We are all one people. We need to practice one another’s cultures. We have rich diversity,” says Ramaphosa.
“This is an opportunity to affirm and celebrate the knowledge, the skills, the belief systems, rituals, stories, legends, music, dance, arts, crafts, food and drinks of our people,” adds Ramaphosa.
The event commenced with the African Union anthem ‘Let us all unite celebrate together our victories for our liberation’, as well as the South African national anthem ‘Nkosi sikelel iAfrica’ sung by primary and high schools from Vleifontein.
– By Sipho Kekana
