Pretoria - Cabinet on Thursday announced a number of events to be executed by President Jacob Zuma this month, as part of Heritage Month Celebrations.
The President will unveil the Matola Memorial and Interpretative Centre in Mozambique on Friday, and the Chief Bhambhatha Sculpture in Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal on 22 September 2015.
Cabinet released a statement saying the President will also deliver a keynote address on Heritage Day, 24 September, in Vleifontein Machado, in Limpopo.
It said the theme for this year’s Heritage Month celebration is “Our indigenous knowledge, our heritage: Towards the identification, promotion and preservation of South Africa’s living heritage”.
“South Africans are encouraged to explore our natural heritage by visiting national parks which will offer free entrance from 14 to 18 September 2015, as part of the 10th annual South African National Parks Week,” said acting Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams.
Basic Education
Meanwhile, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) will conduct the fifth Annual National Assessments (ANA) during this month, to track progress of learning outcomes in literacy and mathematics among grades 1 to 9.
“The ANA generates standardised evidence for monitoring the progress of government interventions and also guide the development of targeted interventions,” said Williams.
It encouraged parents and guardians to support learners during the assessment period and to ensure that the results are used to address any development areas.
“The ANA timetable for 2015 is on available on: www.education.gov.za [and] Cabinet calls on teachers to put the needs of the learners first by ensuring that the ANA continues uninterrupted,” it said.
Cabinet also thanked South Africans for participating in the International Literacy Day on 8 September, to encourage the culture of reading and promote the importance of literacy.
It said the DBE appeals, during this month, for all citizens to participate in a literacy campaign that seeks to encourage reading in our communities.
“Cabinet calls on every one to donate books to school libraries and contribute our time to go and read to children in our communities,” said Williams.
2nd Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation
Meanwhile, South Africa will host the 2nd Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on 4 and 5 December this year.
Cabinet said government will be working closely with the government of China, the African Group of Ambassadors in Beijing and Addis Ababa, and the AU Commission on the preparations leading up to the FOCAC Summit.
“It is expected that the FOCAC Summit will adopt a new Declaration and Plan of Action (2016-2018). South Africa is currently engaging all parties in preparing these two key outcome documents,” Williams said. - SAnews.gov.za
