Deputy President Paul Mashatile has urged South Africans to connect with their roots and preserve their heritage.
He delivered an address at the Heritage Day celebration held at the Bridgeton Sports Grounds in the Western Cape.
Heritage Day 2025 is being commemorated under the theme, “Reimagine our heritage institutions for a new era.”
CALLS FOR HERITAGE TO BE PRESERVED
Mashatile said that regardless of cultural background, every citizen has a responsibility to preserve and showcase heritage both locally and to the world. He noted that heritage institutions nurture cultural identity, foster unity, and provide economic opportunities in sectors such as tourism and the arts.
“They serve as a bridge between the past and the present, allowing us to connect with our roots and understand where we come from. It is in the understanding of our roots that we can lay a solid foundation for our future as a society,” said Mashatile.
He stressed that as South Africans enter a new era, it is crucial to re-evaluate and reinvent heritage institutions to ensure their relevance and accessibility.
“We must emphasise the centrality of heritage in our national project to build a socially cohesive society based on democratic values such as human dignity, equality, freedom, human rights, and civil liberties, as enshrined in our Constitution,” he said.
NATIONHOOD AND RESILIENCE
Mashatile added that heritage embodies the essence of nationhood and the resilience of a people united in their diversity. Quoting former President Nelson Mandela, he said museums and monuments must be inviting and responsive to change so they can strengthen democracy, mutual respect, and human rights.
Mashatile said Mandela’s words highlight the importance of ensuring that museums and cultural institutions address societal challenges and respond to the daily needs of people across racial and cultural divides.
