Program Director, Cllr Jerry Mamabolo
Kgosi Moloto wa Boraro
Limpopo Provincial MEC of Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Nakedi Kekana
Executive Mayor of Capricorn District Municipality, Cllr Mr Mamedupi Teffo
Executive Mayor of Polokwane Local Municipality, Cllr Mr Mosema Mpe
Cllrs here present
Acting Director General of the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Dr Cynthia Khumalo
Senior managers of both National and Provincial Departments
Senior managers of District and Local municipalities
Teachers and learners from local schools
Members of the media
Members of the community
Ladies and gentlemen
Programme Director, as we bring to the close the Women’s Month, we mark the start of Heritage Month on the eve of September under the theme: “Celebrating our cultural diversity in a democratic South Africa”.
For centuries this country’s history was biased and served the colonial and apartheid regimes’ ideals. The advent of democracy has brought about profound changes and, in the process, liberated voices that have been silenced for centuries. Our heritage and legacy celebrations pursue to bring this history to the people.
Ladies and Gentlemen, our stories will create an understanding that while our respective journeys to freedom might have been different, we are united in our love for our country and share the passion to move the country forward. Through sharing these stories, we will realise that we all subscribe to the same basic set of values such as mutual respect, democracy, freedom, equality, and justice.
Today we connect with South Africans from all walks of life, wherever they may assemble to mark the start of month paying tribute to our heritage as South Africans. It is during a month such as this when we value the symbols and the historic developments which define the essence of who we are. Heritage month serves to remind us of the significance of our past as well as our present.
In 2023, Heritage Month shines the spotlight on South Africa’s rich and diverse cultural heritage which incorporates African, Asian, and European cultures and traditions.
Our rich and diverse cultures should unite us as a nation to promote and preserve our unique heritage by safeguarding it as a valuable resource for current and future generations.
South Africa has rich, unique, and diverse indigenous knowledge systems that have endured for generations.
These indigenous knowledge systems have sustained our indigenous communities through times of plenty, droughts, floods, famine and throughout all phases of life.
Unless and until, we as Africans start documenting our stories and ways of life, we will continue to lament the disappearance of our indigenous knowledge systems. Being cognisance of this challenge, the Department made a conscious decision to support the project of recording the times and lives of these patriots.
There is African proverb that says, “Until the lion learns how to write, the story will always glorify the hunter”. The lesson conveyed is that a story is never complete until it is told from the source. In this instance, for as long we allow other people to write about us, the true story will never be known.
This is what motivated the Department to commission the writing of the books about these Living Human Treasures.
These living human treasures are individuals who possess to a very high degree, the knowledge and skills required for performing or recreating specific elements of our indigenous knowledge.
These people are invaluable to the transmission and reviving of our indigenous knowledge and need to be publicly recognised by all South Africans.
It therefore gives me immense pleasure today to formally launch books published by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture on the life and work of five such living human treasures.
The late Koko Meiki Grace Masuku, whose family is here today with us.
An indigenous conservationist and organic intellectual whose life has been dedicated to transmitting indigenous medicinal knowledge to the younger generation.
Mr Themba Patrick Magaisa
A poet, novelist, author, and editor who promote the Xitsonga indigenous language through writing, and thus his voice, and views have been penned down in over 20 poetry books.
Vho Tshimangadzo Esther Sinyegwe
An indigenous knowledge teacher who transmits her sought-after cultural knowledge through dance and language.
Oom Petrus Vaalbooi
A Khoi and San traditional leader who possesses and transmits the history of the red Kalahari. He has provided his rare intelligence in Khoi and San rituals. This was demonstrated during the repatriation of the Khoi and San couple from Austria in 2012, Klaas and Trooi Pienaar.
Dr Thomas Hasani Chauke
An indigenous educator through an indigenous unique musical beat. Promote indigenous language through music and educate society about social life, education, culture, and marital life through indigenous music.
“The one who does not have a voice or who does not have the means to publish his side of the story is often treated as a loser’’. For this same reason, our department has established a Publishing Hub to assist writers to publish their manuscripts.
It is my hope and expectation that future books that will be published from this hub, will not only be about biographies but will also be documenting these unique indigenous knowledge and skills for the benefit of future generations.
Programme Director, as indicated earlier, today we are launching the National Heritage Month, which will be followed by events and activities to celebrate heritage in all our 9 provinces. We encourage people to be on the lookout for and take part in the events to be hosted in the communities.
The Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Mafu and I will attend a selection of these Heritage Month activities starting with this launch today.
As I conclude, the Heritage Month celebrations will be rounded of in KwaZulu-Natal from the 24 to the 29th of September, and it will incorporate the annual national indigenous games festival.
Ke a Leboga, Ndo Livhuwa, Ndza Khensa, Baie Dankie, Ndiyabulela
