Programme Director:
Your Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioner present here.
Councellor Gregory Nthatisi, Executive Mayor of Mangaung
Mr Molato Tshabalala HoD for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Free State Province
Dr Angela Martins, Director of Social Development and Culture, African Union Commission
Members of the Africa Month Reference Group
Distinguished guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great pleasure for me to be here amongst you this morning as we launch the Africa Month Program, a Pan African Program that celebrate the work that great people of this Continent have done to lift themselves out of poverty, conflicts, and social injustices as we march towards everlasting peace and social progress.
The Year 2024 is a special year in the South Africa history as it marks 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy. As a country we celebrate this year fully aware of the role-played by African Governments and its generous and fearless people in shaping the democracy we embrace dearly and celebrate.
Maybe some of you may be asking themselves why the launch of this year Africa Month is taking place in this beautiful church, the Waaihoek Wesleyan Methodist Mission Church is the historic church which is the birthplace of the South African National Native Congress 08 January 1912 and late to become the Africa National Congress.
Africa Month 2024 Program is the 10th edition, and it is implemented as South Africa celebrate 30 Year of Democracy. Celebration of 30 Year of SA Democracy is a yearlong program to celebrate and reflect on the progress the government has made in improving the lives of South African population since 1994. On the 10th of May 1994 President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela addressed; the nation and the world on the occasion of his inauguration at the Union Buildings, Pretoria. Former President Mandela’s inauguration speech was important in both its symbolism and content.
The 30 years celebration project is aimed at creating platforms for South Africans in sport, arts and culture sectors to celebrate and showcase their achievements and milestones of democracy against the set priorities, commitments, and obligations of government in the NDP 2030, the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union Agenda 2063.
The sport, arts and culture obligations and commitments, as articulated in national and international frameworks, have provided a solid foundation for South Africa to advance as a democratic state grounded in the principles of human dignity, equality, human rights and freedoms, non-racialism, non-sexism, supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law, democracy, social justice, equity, and respect.
Considering this, the celebration is intended to offer inclusive platforms for a wide range of state and non-state actors to commemorate 30 years of a rights-based approach to social, economic, and political matters.
The objectives of DSAC 30-year celebration of democracy project are as follows:
- To remember the history of apartheid struggle in South Africa and celebrate the successes of South Africans over the decades, reaffirming the country’s commitment to strive for a society free of all forms of inequalities, segregation, prejudice, poverty, and discrimination.
- To establish platforms that will continue to document South Africa’s evolving history, educate the younger generation about the country’s struggle history, and honour and celebrate the living struggle icons. This aims to raise awareness about the role played by South Africans from diverse backgrounds and the international community in dismantling colonial and apartheid rule. Additionally, it seeks to celebrate South Africans who have achieved breakthroughs in all spheres of life, both on the world stage and the continent.
- To take stock of progress made, acknowledge ongoing challenges, and realign and reposition the sustainability of democracy and freedom.
- To reinforce the importance of all gender and races to take their places for South Africa to progress and development.
- To emphasize that society cannot be free until its women, girls, and persons with disabilities are free from discrimination, oppression, and inequality.
- To rejuvenate South Africa’s commitment to strive for a society free of all forms of discrimination, racism, patriarchy, segregation, and inequalities to unite South African behind common national interests.
The government of South Africa through the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is launching the Africa Month 2023 under the theme: “30 Years of Freedom”
This Program promotes Pan Africanism and African Cultural Renaissance, of which both contribute to joint efforts for the decolonization and regeneration of the African continent. Africa Month, amongst others, also aimed at achieving the following:
- To promote the African Agenda and strengthen the African Union institutions and policies.
- To implement and bring to life the AU Agenda 2063 and the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance.
- To promote regional integration by strengthening people to people contact harmonize policies and share skills and expertise.
- To promote Cultural Diplomacy for a Broader Socio-economic agenda
- To stimulate the implementation of existing Cultural Agreements and strengthen relations with identified countries in the continent for mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships.
Africa Month is further regarded as a platform to promote the AU institution and its programs towards the attainment of its vision – ‘An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena’.
As we move swiftly towards accelerating the Africa Continental Free Trade Areas, we do so fully aware and taking advantages presented by this progressive Continental trade arrangement that will see the heritage and creative sector benefiting significantly by doing business amongst ourselves as Africans.
We, as a sector are equally concerned about conflicts taking place in different parts of the world which threatens development and destabilises livelihood and deepen global tensions. What role can sport, arts and culture play in conflict resolution…there is a need for an honest and robust dialogue.
From the onset the OAU Charter, thereafter its successor the African Union has placed culture at the top of their agenda as indicated by Article II (a) of the OAU Charter which affirms the commitment of the Member States to the coordination and harmonisation of their policies in the domain of educational and cultural cooperation within the continent.
The 10th edition of Africa Month Program would feature over 58 cultural activities ranging from Exhibitions, Performances, colloquium, roundtable discussion, film screening and culinary demonstration. These are truly pan African activities with participation of over 28 countries from the Continent and the Diaspora. In addition we have funded about 25 projects throughout the country through which the message will continue to be spread. One of them will be happening right here in the Free State; at the Afrikaans Art Museum on the 11th May; titled “Eyes on Africa”.
It is in this current climate and pursuit of commonalities that the existing initiative on Africa Month is aimed at pursuing the agenda set out by our predecessors but sharpened by new generations. A generation preoccupied with fighting xenophobia, Poverty, GBVF, racism and acknowledging cultural diversity as we celebrate our common heritage.
Let us strive together to build a prosperous Africa – Africa that provides economic opportunities for its youth and vulnerable groups within our societies.
It is our commitment to build an inclusive global world, the world that support multilateralism and rule of law without fear or favour.
Program Director, this is our story, the story of a continent that is transforming itself, and it is the one that we need to embrace, project, and work together to transmit.
I therefore invite you to work with us as we build a better Africa and a better world. With these words, I declare 2024 Africa Month Program Officially Launched.
I thank you for your attention.
