Pretoria-South Africans will today mark Heritage Day, a day set aside to celebrate the country's rich cultural heritage, diversity and beliefs with several occasions planned for the day.
Acting president Kgalema Motlanthe will officiate over the main celebrations at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Wesselton in Ermelo.
This year will be the 16th year since commemoration of the day since the advance of democracy under the theme 'Celebrating the heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle in South Africa' with Cabinet calling on citizens to celebrate the day.
The acting president will be accompanied by acting premier of Mpumalanga Madala Masuku, Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile and Deputy Ministers, Thabang Makwetla of Defence and Military Veterans and Diana Pule of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation..
In Gauteng Premier Nomvula Makonyane will deliver a keynote address at the provincial Arts, Culture and Recreation Department's celebrations at the Maropeng heritage site. The celebrations will feature poetry and entertainment by various artists.
The day coincides with International Olympic Day with the main highlight being a fun walk with over 1000 children to participate. Entrance to the site will be free for those who come in by bus.
In the Free State the main celebrations will take place at the Ficksburg showgrounds and will be characterised by exhibitions around historical liberation struggle icons. The celebrations come as the province today cleans the graves of liberation heroes in Ficksburg.
Cape Town mayor, Patricia de Lille, will open the Langa Heritage Museum in the Old Pass Court building after it was vandalised. The Old Pass Court building will serve as a site where visitors and tourists can learn about the history of the township. It will also continue to be used as a venue for public meetings and heritage workshops.
Additionally cold water swimmers in only Speedo costumes will take to the Atlantic to celebrate South African cultural diversity and to raise funds for the elderly.
The swimmers will participate in either a 2.5km or 5km race as part of the Cadiz Swim Series, a host of cold water sea swims which promote open water swimming and raise funds for good causes.
The swim takes place in Granger Bay where over 50 brave swimmers will race a route just off the V&A Waterfront's breakwater in a sea temperature of around 13 degrees or colder. Additionally Freedom Park will offer free entrance today. -BuaNews
