Pretoria – Reconciliation Month, which kicks off on 1 December, is a reminder to continue to work together to build a united, non–racial, non-sexist society where people live together in harmony.
This is according to the Department of Arts and Culture which will lead 2016 Reconciliation Month commemorations under the theme: “Bridging the Divide towards a Non-Racist Society”.
Reconciliation Day, commemorated annually on 16 December, started in 1994 after the first democratic elections to foster reconciliation and unity among South Africans and to embrace the common ties that bind us rather than focus on what divides us as a nation.
This year’s Reconciliation Day event will take place at the Gopane Black Aces Ground, in Zeerust in North West.
“On this day, South Africans across the country are encouraged to reach out to each other, to unite as a nation, strengthen relations with fellow South Africans and those who reside in the country.
“This day also speaks to human rights and equality together with redress and transformation,” said the department.
The origins and significance of this day can partly be traced back to the Battle of Blood River in 1838, which saw the Voortrekker army led by Andries Pretorius defeating the Zulu army in the Ncome Stream.
During the days of apartheid, 16 December was commemorated as the Day of the Covenant; the Day of the Vow or Dingane’s Day, which was created to commemorate a vow taken by the Voortrekkers - a group of Afrikaners who had moved inland to escape the clutches of British colonialism and imperialism - in preparation for a battle with the Zulu people, under King Dingane kaSenzangakhona, with whom they had a serious land dispute.
Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa said like many African countries, South Africa emerged from an oppressive, divisive and colonial system which created a fragmented society.
“Recently, we have seen that much remains to be done to build non-racialism in particular. While the nation-building project has made many advances in the first 21 years of freedom, the current reality points to mind-sets that need to be changed,” said Minister Mthethwa.
He said the country needs to focus on what unites us.
“We need to dwell on the importance of raising consciousness, and a fundamental re-inventing and re-imagining of some among us, so that equality and inclusivity become engrained in all our people, who together should work towards a better life for all,” said the Minister.
Given South Africa’s past history of divisions along the contours of race, class, religion, culture, language and other social constructions, the quest to bring about a more equitable society, as envisioned in the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030, remains a key challenge.
The NDP presupposes a kind of society with a firm commitment to righting the wrongs of the past, with perpetrators of human atrocities willing to take the first step towards reconciliation.
As the country celebrated 22 years of freedom and democracy, much has been done to create a better life for all, but incidents of racism continue to reemerge.
The Department of Arts and Culture and other sister government departments will therefore host Public Dialogue Series and other programmes focusing on the notion of reconciliation, constitution and the inculcation of positive values.
“We urge everyone to mark Reconciliation Month as an opportunity to strengthen human solidarity and tolerance and to build national identity and social cohesion in our country,” said the Minister. – SAnews.gov.za
