Diversity, unity, land dominate Heritage Day

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the country to continue with rebuilding efforts after the looting and violence that rocked two provinces, Kwazulu Natal and Gauteng, in July, leading to job losses and damage to the economy.

Ramaphosa, who was delivering a virtual Heritage Day address yesterday, said it was time to unite the nation.

He called on South Africans to use Heritage Day to reflect on the values and principles that define the country’s population.

He reflected on the challenges faced by the country economically and the continued presence of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ramaphosa said, as the country was dealing with efforts to rebuild the economy which had been ravaged by lockdowns, the July unrest rippled through Kwazulu-natal and Gauteng.

This left many injured, hundreds dead and many businesses closed down while many had lost their jobs.

The president said these events left the country's collective unity shaken.

It is for this reason that he called on citizens to remember the values and principles that defined the country.

The president attempted to weave a utopian ideal of what defined South Africans.

He said citizens of the country respected the Constitution, respected each other’s rights, were intolerant of tribalism and racism and spoke out against gender-based violence.

Ramaphosa said elected officials were also expected to respect the rule of law and not engage in acts of corruption. South Africans were peace-loving people, the president said.

Ramaphosa said the biggest challenge was for the country to overcome the divisions of the past that had created an unequal economy where poverty and unemployment remained an issue.

He called for unity in an effort to overcome the blow dealt by the pandemic.

“Let us unite to rebuild South Africa so we can be able to recover as a country from Covid. Our unity in our diversity is the most valuable feature of our society.”

DA leader John Steenhuisen focused his political message on encouraging unity among citizens. He said the country’s diversity was important and no one should use it to divide the country further.

The IFP addressed the devastating impact the pandemic had had on the arts industry.

IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa said a more diverse income generation avenue should be found to help those affected by the pandemic.

“We, therefore, need to raise our voices against government inaction and demand accountability. The survival of the beating heart of South Africa depends on our ability to reach out and help our artists.”

Ramaphosa addressed the plight faced by artists briefly during his address.

The president said Covid-19 relief to the sector had assisted more than 34 000 people.

The EFF focused its message on the land issue. It said there was no heritage to celebrate while many in the country remained landless.