Pretoria – Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba on Wednesday announced that the department has partnered with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to run an essay and multimedia competition for young people at institutions of higher learning.
The essay competition is open to young people between the ages of 18 and 30.
Minister Gigaba said these young people should have a broad and extensive understanding of the concept of social cohesion, in particular the South African context.
According to Minister Gigaba, the participants will be required to write a 1000 words essay or present a multimedia project on the topic: ‘Why Social Cohesion is Important in Our Country”.
“The country must support and encourage the production of art work and stories that facilitate healing, nation building and dialogue,” he said.
The competition will be held under the theme: “Migrants’ contribution to our communities, country and continent”.
Minister Gigaba said they believe that the competition will further advance government’s vision as enshrined in the National Development Plan as a cultural activity where it is boldly stated that cultural activities and art can also play a major role in facilitating the sharing of common spaces.
“In addition art can foster values and facilitate dialogue and healing, thus restoring pride among African, Indian and Coloured South Africans. The country must support and encourage the production of art work and stories that facilitate healing, nation building and dialogue.
“Fittingly, together with the IOM, we underpin our belief in how we envision that the occasion will reflect the aims of the African Union in its visionary document Agenda 2063, which details the African continent’s development trajectory for the next fifty years,” he said.
Mkhaya Migrants Awards
Last month, the department announced the opening of the nomination process for the 2016 Mkhaya Migrants Awards.
The department launched the Mkhaya Migrants Awards on 10 May 2015.
He explained that the Mkhaya Migrant Awards are aimed at building a unified, inclusive and caring South African society and recognising outstanding migrants, residing in South Africa who make an immense contribution to South Africa’s development in their various fields of expertise.
Last year’s winners include: William Okpara, Orlando Pirates legend and Nigerian goalkeeping hero in the sport category, and Sephaku Cement in the business category.
Nominations close on Friday, 25 November 2016. - SAnews.gov.za
