21 September 2007
The North West Provincial Government will celebrate this year's Heritage Day
at Goedgevonden (Ventersdorp) on Monday, 24 September 2007.
The focus of this year's Heritage Month is on celebrating poetry. In
celebrating South African poetry, the people of the North West will recall and
celebrate its world renowned writer, poet, translator, journalist and one of
the pioneer veterans of the struggle for a democratic, non-racial South Africa
- Solomon Thekisho Plaatje. Plaatje was not only the first Secretary General of
the African Native National Congress (later ANC), but was also a prolific
writer, poet and journalist. He translated many of William Shakespeare's plays
into Setswana, and in so doing left a rich heritage for Setswana, the
Translation profession and future generations of Setswana speakers.
The provincial government is committed to promoting a culture of reading and
writing as well as encouraging equitable development of all South African
languages. Accordingly, government aims to use poetry to stimulate the growth
and development of South African literature in indigenous African languages and
to create new audiences, especially among the youth. This year Heritage Day
will see a celebration of our diverse languages through poetry in pursuit of a
shared identity.
Government urges all our people to join it as we celebrate our diverse
heritage by renewing our pledge to build a South Africa with an identity that
is shared by all who live in it.
Enquiries:
Cornelius Tanana Monama
Spokesperson
Tel: 018 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063
Issued by: North West Provincial Government
21 September 2007
