Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi to unveil a memorial of unsung heroine Mrs Magrieta Jantjies as part of Women’s Month celebrations
This year marks 60 years since the historic 1956 women’s march, when our heroines marched against pass laws. The Department of Arts and Culture would like to honour the unsung heroines who made sacrifices during the liberation struggle and also those who did outstanding work for the benefit of their communities in the areas of arts, culture and heritage.
Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi will unveil a memorial for one of the unsung heroines Mrs Magrieta Jantjies. Ouma Griet, as she was known, is being honoured for her role in promoting the N!uu Language and she’s one of the last to speak the language fluently.
The Department of Arts and Culture tasked and funded its agency, the South African Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA), to erect a memorial in honour of the late Mrs Magrietta Jantjies. Jantjies grave was identified as a grave of cultural significance in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act no 25 of 1999 (NHRA) section 36 (2) which states that “SAHRA must identify and record graves of victims of conflict and any other graves which it deems to be of cultural significance and may erect memorials associated with the grave…” This was prompted by the role played by Magrieta Jantjies in opposing displacement of the N!uu language imposed by the apartheid government.
On that evening, Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi will also host a gala dinner to launch the first publication of its kind, Women of Power:The Unsung Human Treasures.
This publication of Women of Power is the celebration of 18 women who are our living human treasures but remain in the margins of society. The Department of Arts and Culture has undertaken this initiative to recognise and celebrate women who play a pivotal role in the development of our communities. These women make enormous contribution to their communities in very unique ways through arts, culture and heritage, yet they remain unsung heroines in the broader society. Many of them are resident in rural areas and their exploits do not capture newspaper headlines or attract the attention of popular media on a national scale.
On 30 August 2016, Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi will proceed to Paballo high School to do flag hoisting as part of the Department of Arts and Culture’s flag in every school programme aimed at educating learners and citizens about nation building and social cohesion. The programme includes the promotion of the National Anthem; and the recitation of the Preamble of the Constitution and installation of the National Flag in schools amongst others.
Members of the Media are invited as follows:
The symbolic unveiling of the memorial
Date: Monday, 29 August 2016
Time: 07h30 – 09h00
Venue: Rosedale Cemetry, Upington, Northern Cape Province.
Launch of the publication: Women of Power
Date: Monday, 29 August 2016
Time: 18h00 – 20h00
Venue: Piet Thole Community Hall, Upington, Northern Cape Province.
Flag hoisting
Date: Tuesday, 30 August 2016
Time: 07h30 – 08h30
Venue : Paballelo High School, Upington, Northern Cape Province
Media RSVPs: Obed Makgoale: ObedM@dac.gov.za / 012 441 3713 / 079 311 8546
Media enquiries:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
E-mail: petermb@dac.gov.za
