Speech delivered by Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi on the occasion of the unveiling of the Memorial of Ms Magrieta Jantjies in Rosedale, Upington
Programme director,
Honourable Premier of the Northern Cape, Mme Sylvia Lucas;
Honourable MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba;
Your Worship the Executive Mayor of ZF Makgawu District Municipality, Cllr Abraham Vosloo;
Your Worship the Mayor of Khara Hais Local Municipality,
Ouma’s Griet’s family;
Chairperson of the South African Heritage Resource Agency, Susan Bouillon;
CEO of the South African Heritage Resource Agency, Ms Veliswa Baduza;
Representative of the House of Nnte;
Members of the community;
Members of the media;
Ladies and gentlemen.
The year 2016 marks 60 years since the historic 1956 women’s march, when our heroines marched against pass laws.
Hence the Department of Arts and Culture is committed 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.
As we celebrate and commemorating the Women’s Month it is befitting that we hold this gracious event in this Province. The biggest province with a unique and special cultural heritage and is home to most of our First People in our country. The slopes; the hills; the valleys; the mountains; the rocks shelter and indeed the caves around here are material evidence of this cultural heritage.
The plants in the environment and their association with the local communities showcase rich Indigenous Knowledge Systems in health based on their knowledge of the plants; the ability to survive; the dry desert-like landscapes are a manifestation of people’s ability to survive under difficult conditions; the unmarked routes and footprints present movement/travel patterns which are unparallel, these were abilities to find directions without maps or compass in vast open deserts.
Ladies and gentlemen not only did our forebears in this province endured and overcome the harsh conditions of the natural environment in this province, but also managed to coin unique cultural practices that saw them adapt to these natural landscapes.
The dances that resemble and imitate animal movements showcase an artistic ability and flexibility to observe and learn. The rock inscriptions and paintings were educational and communication materials that thought others and narrate information. Their hunting strategies and patterns are proof of conquering and capturing with precision.
The complexity and construction of their unique language present us with exceptional click sounds which challenge our oral and pronunciation abilities. This remains an outstanding and exceptional cultural identity of this community, a community whose languages were systematically wiped out.
But with endurance by strong people some remnants of some of these languages were preserved and remain used in remote areas under difficult circumstances.
Today marks a celebration of those who managed to preserve these unique languages. Amongst these is Magriet who could speak the Nuu language. Ladies and Gentlemen indeed there were and are others which deserve this recognition and our department strives to give recognition to all them.
Again my esteemed colleagues let me remind all that as it is August a Woman’s Month we are here to celebrate a woman who had an ability to speak the Nuu language.
She represents many other heroines who played an important role in our socio-cultural environment. She deserves this honour and our department has therefore erected a memorial for her so that the next generation will learn about this heroine.
Today we should all be celebrating and if it was possible having our conversation in Nuu. It is these languages that are a masterpiece of our diverse and unique cultural heritage.
Let us be proud of our languages, a cultural heritage which is enshrined and protected by our Constitution. We should be encouraging those who still speak these languages to transmit them to the younger generation. Indeed we all have a responsibility to make it possible for such transmissions.
The role played by Women in the development of the of our nation must be given more and more recognition. Thousands of women sacrificed their lives and dedicated their times to building homes, families, communities and the nation.
It is therefore befitting that we honour these forgotten mothers, sisters and girls. Today we are unveiling the memorial built for mama Magriet and we will continue to honour others by presenting, conservation and promotion of these cultural heritage that define our cultural identity.
As we continue to honour the unsung heroines. This evening we will 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. It will depict biographies of the outstanding 18 women and honour them for having done the significant work in their communities from all nine provinces.
We requested the our MECs to submit two names of women who meet the criterion stated above, this was to make the total number of 18 women to be profiled.
Let us continue to preserve and promote our languages. It is through languages that we are able to preserve our diverse cultures.
I thank you!
