17 September 2010
This year’s national Heritage Day will honour the contribution of all South Africans to the successful hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, which has become part of the country’s psyche, inspiring its people with the belief that they can achieve even greater things.
Heritage Day, 24 September, celebrates South Africa’s rich and diverse cultures in all their tangible and intangible aspects, including the country’s historical inheritance, creative arts, languages, craft and cuisine.
This year, the focus will be on a new and powerful aspect of South Africa’s heritage: the successful hosting the World Cup, which was made possible through the collective participation and contribution of all South Africans.
“The successful hosting of the tournament has become part of our legacy and national heritage, and will always be a source of hope and strength to future generations,” government spokesperson Themba Maseko said after Cabinet’s meeting on Thursday.
“We celebrate the contribution of all South Africans during the tournament to the building of the country, from the physical infrastructure to the inspirational cohesiveness that united all of us,” Maseko said.
In pulling off one of the best Fifa World Cups ever, the country had discovered “a new way of doing business, which has become part of the collective determination of all South Africans.”
Various celebratory events have been planned to mark the day, with the main official event taking place at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium, where President Jacob Zuma will deliver an address.
‘Keep the spirit of ubuntu going’
Earlier this month, Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana urged South Africans to use Heritage Month to deepen the country’s humanity and unity, as they did during the World Cup.
“Let us work together to sustain the spirit of ubuntu and patriotism that prevailed during the global event,” Xingwana said.
“This is a call to South Africans to celebrate our collective achievements during the Fifa World Cup. We will use the event to acknowledge and recognise the hard work and sacrifices of the various sectors of our society during the World Cup.
“We believe that it is important to sustain the positive memory of the World Cup, and mobilise all the sectors of our society in the celebration of this distinctive period in the history of our country,” Xingwana said.
“It is also important that we continue with this momentum and commit ourselves as a nation to intensify our efforts towards social cohesion.”
Source: BuaNews
