Good morning, Goeie môre, Molweni
Former President Nelson Mandela once said, and allow me to quote: "When our museums and monuments (national symbols) preserve the whole of our diverse heritage, when they are inviting to the public and interact with the changes all around them, then they will strengthen our attachment to human rights, mutual respect and democracy, and help prevent these ever again being violated".
Freedom Day is an annual celebration of South Africa's first non-racial democratic elections of 1994. Peace, unity, the preservation and the restoration of human dignity, all mark Freedom Day celebrations on the 27 April of each year.
On 27 April 1994, as we all know, for the first time in our country's history everyone was treated as equal citizens. All South Africans of voting age were allowed to vote, irrespective to their race, class or gender. South Africans were finally free in their own country.
Through the celebration of this day we as South Africans renew our commitment to ensuring the preservation of our democracy and freedoms that we won as a result of a long, difficult and costly struggle. We, on this day remind ourselves that the guarantee of our freedom requires permanent vigilance.
Through this, we pledge to devote ourselves to continue the work of eradicating the legacy of racism in our country and the Western Cape province as we build our nation on the values as enshrined within our Constitution. We need to ensure that all our people enjoy these freedoms not merely as theoretical rights but that they must form part of the daily life experience of all South Africans.
Over the past 16 years, South Africa has despite all its challenges facing our democratic dispensation, begun its journey to record its recent past and paved its way towards a "brighter future". Initiatives such as the crafting of the "rainbow nation" metaphor, the national flag, national anthem and the Coat of Arms and other national symbols have become symbols of peace and reconciliation amongst the country's diverse population with its long history of strife and conflict.
Within this province, we are today launching our travelling exhibition which is aimed at further promoting our national symbols and the constitution, which has played an important role in nation building.
In essence ladies and gentlemen, it is about bringing our people together, by means of these national symbols such as Coat of Arms, the national flag and our national anthem to help further social cohesion.
They embody elements that are unique to our country and are symbols of what defines our country to give it its special identity. National symbols become rallying points, helping to forge strong feelings of patriotism, creating a sense of nationhood, which binds together all the people of a country, regardless of race, tribe or religion.
It is against this background that the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, as a lead provincial department in social cohesion, believes that the South African national symbols should be used as a tool to unify the people of the Western Cape. It is imperative to point out that the Western Cape has a history that is deeply polarised. A history that is characterised by severe multitude of segregation, oppression and the wounds of apartheid are still manifested in the society.
Since 1994, the Western Cape people have been exposed to a number of social rehabilitation programmes that aim at building a united society that is based on the values of Ubuntu, respect, reconciliation, non-sexism and non-racialism as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
The theme for this year's Freedom Day celebrations is: "Together deepening our democracy and celebrating our freedom". It is against this background and at the provincial commemorations in the Western Cape, that Department of Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation is officially launching the Travelling Exhibition on the National Symbols by the provincial museum service at the South African Sending-Gestig Museum in Cape Town.
Today we celebrate 16 years of freedom and democracy in South Africa as well as the achievements we have made as a nation. This marks another milestone in the history of our nation.
Ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests it is time for us to reflect on and celebrate the road that we have travelled to achieve our freedom and democracy. On this day we remember the sacrifices of heroes and heroines from all walks of life, who sacrificed so much to ensure freedom for all of us.
2010 is for us as South Africans indeed a milestone within itself, as we prepare to welcome visitors from across the continent and the world to the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. This is where we as South African will get the opportunity to display our dance, music, rich culture and heritage.
The billions of people who will be tuned in will have no doubt that this is truly an African world cup. Our national symbols and orders will serve as a catalysts to unite us as we work together to become good hosts to our visitors and welcome the world in our midst.
Closing, I would like to say, as a nation we have come a long way since those very first national elections which were held in 1994. It is up to us to see it through, hence ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests: "qala, qhubeka, gqiba". We have started, we must continue and we must finish?
Enquiries please contact:
Angus Flowers
Tel: 021 483 9800
Cell: 083 304 3320
E-mail: aflowers@pgwc.gov.za
