Heritage Day celebrates the collective of our diverse history, culture, and language. It is what makes us quintessentially South African. The task of nation building seeks to undo the horrific legacy of separate development and apartheid. This is not an easy task and may take generations to fully achieve our vision of nation building and social cohesion.
This Heritage Day we should all rededicate ourselves to making South Africa a country we can all be proud of. This requires that we must all bring the best of what has been bequeathed us and put it to the service of a higher purpose.
The Father of our Nation President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela reminded us on the occasion of the first Heritage Day celebration in 1996 that “our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation.”
Let us respond to his call and make South Africa a truly great nation.
Nkosi Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela, chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and grandson of famed South African President Nelson Mandela. Member of Parliament (MP) South Africa National Assembly. All articles by Nkosi Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela
