Arts and Culture Minister, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, will host a national convention on nation building, social cohesion and reconciliation on Monday, 1 February 2016 at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in Sandton, Johannesburg. The convention follows a meeting held by the Minister and Social Cohesion Advocates on 21 January 2016 to chart a way forward for the development of sectoral and national plans to build social cohesion, combat racism and eradicate discrimination in South Africa.
Through this convention, Minister Mthethwa calls on civil society organisations, business, students, faith communities, the media and leaders from various sectors to come together under one roof and discuss national plans to build a front against racism and strengthen national building and social cohesion. South Africa has emerged from centuries of apartheid, segregation and colonialism with a history of institutionalised racism, which created a fragmented society. In recent weeks, we have seen that much remains to be done to build non-racialism in particular. While the nation-building project has made many advances in the first 21 years of freedom, the current reality point to mind-sets that need to be changed.
“There are many areas, sectors and sites where racism must be dislodged. The future calls for something else; a country in which all are fully free, all are truly equal. Thus a programme of engagement is key in educating society about racism. Dialogues and community conversations must take place. This National Convention is important. We need to focus on what unites us. We need to dwell on the importance of raising consciousness, and a fundamental re-inventing and re-imagining of some among us, so that equality and inclusivity become engrained in all our people, who together should work towards a better life for all.” said Minister Mthethwa.
The Department of Arts & Culture has the mandate to coordinate and mobilise society to promote Nation-Building and Social Cohesion as envisioned by The National Development Plan Chapter 15.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: Monday, 1 February 2016
Time: 8h00-17h00
Venue: Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), 19 Friedman Drive in Sandton
RSPVs:
Madimetja Moleba
012 441 3737
Cell: 072 842 6594
E-mail: MadimetjaM@dac.gov.za
For enquiries, contact:
Lisa Combrinck
Cell: 082 821 4886
E-mail: LisaCo@dac.gov.za
Teresa Magidela
Cell: 060 601 7724
E-mail: TeresaM@dac.gov.za
