Pretoria - Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa says it is important for the country to take stock of the progress being made in building a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.
Speaking at the start of a meeting with social cohesion advocates to discuss how South Africa can strengthen nation-building and social cohesion in Johannesburg on Thursday, the Minister said every new year presents an opportunity for the country to renew the commitments to “our families, our communities, ourselves and our contribution to the country as a whole”.
The Minister said despite the global economic outlook and recent incidences of racism, the country should not be distracted from the building of a non-racial South Africa.
“Building a non-racial society is not an easy task. It requires a change in mindsets, a willingness to think, to understand the basic dignity of all people and a commitment to equality and inclusivity in pursuit of a better life for all.
“It is not a rosy goal. It is easy to take shortcuts but we need to move beyond anger.
“Nation-building in the context of South Africa cannot degenerate into the mere perpetuation of the hierarchies of the past, based on pre-given or ethnically engineered and imposed divisions of people rooted in prejudice, discrimination and exclusion,” said Minister Mthethwa.
The Department of Arts and Culture has the responsibility to coordinate and mobilise society to promote nation-building and social cohesion as envisioned in the National Development Plan.
The meeting was expected to drive a broader nation-building and anti-racism agenda and plan for a bigger engagement with a wide range of stakeholders that is envisaged to take place on 01 February 2016. – SAnews.gov.za
