Let me also congratulate the University for hosting the 17th Annual Steve Biko Lecture, which was addressed by
activist and feminist, Professor Angela Davies last Friday.
It is of course deliberate that this lecture and its theme speak to September being Heritage Month, and the 24th day of
this month being an annual national holiday: Heritage Day.
I hope that my lecture will re-appraise the significance of this symbolic national day, and the ways in which it should
inspire us as South Africans, while it simultaneously challenges, especially at this point in time in our journey to the
NDP’s vision 2030.
In this regard, I draw from none other than our icon and founding father of our democratic nation, the late former
President Nelson Mandela, who during the unveiling of a monument dedicated to the late Professor Enoch Sontonga
on Heritage Day in 1996 said, and I quote:
“When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we
did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new
nation.
We did so knowing that the struggles against the injustice and inequities of the past are part of our national
identity; they are part of our culture. We knew that, if indeed our nation has to rise like the proverbial phoenix
from the ashes of division and conflict, we had to acknowledge those whose selfless efforts and talents were
dedicated to this goal of non-racial democracy…
Our humble actions today form part of the re-awakening of the South African nation; the acknowledgement of its
varied achievements…”
I believe that in these reflections of Madiba, and of course in many more before and after that occasion, lie a set of
normative values and principles against which to evaluate our actions and our journey towards the vision and goals of
our democracy, as espoused in the National Development Plan: Vision 2030.
Indeed, this year, 2016, has a particular symbolism from a heritage perspective, not only in terms of the several
historical events we have been commemorating, but also in more current events and episodes which have brought to
the fore, in a powerful and unprecedented manner, both the national importance of heritage in our country and the
contradictions related to it.
As cited by President Jacob Zuma in February in his State of the Nation Address, 2016 marks the following significant
events:
· 60 years since the adoption of the Freedom Charter in Kliptown in 1955;
· 60 years since the women’s march to the Union Building against Apartheid pass laws;60 years since the
women’s march to the Union Building against Apartheid pass laws;
· 40 years since the June 1976 youth uprising;
· 25 years since the release from prison of the late former President Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of 25
years since the release from prison of the late former President Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of
liberation movements;
· 22 years since the 1994 democratic breakthrough, and
· 20 years since the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa in 1996.
To this list might be added the 39th anniversary of the death in police detention of Steve Bantu Biko, in September
1977.
These are truly heritage events, with deep meaning and lessons; offering us the opportunity to reflect on what we have
achieved as a country, and the challenges that we still confront in deepening democracy and improving people’s lives.
The Current Conjuncture
2016 has also been characterised by other events, which in their own way are cause for serious reflection about
heritage and citizenry in South Africa, and about the future trajectory of our country.
It is undeniable that as a country we are currently going through a deeply challenging time, due to factors such an
economy in which growth, employment and investment continue to be erratic and elusive, with uncertain prospects, on
account of various domestic and external factors. This has adverse social consequences, which in turn cause anxiety,
pessimism and impatience, which are increasingly pervading society, creating a rising degree of social and political
tensions and discordance.
Incidents like the Penny Sparrow matter; the students’ ‘Black Hair’ hair controversy at a high school in this city; the
violent mayhem of the protests in this city, ahead of the recent local government elections, coming on top of
increasingly regular violent ‘service delivery protests’; and the volatility among university students – are symptomatic of
deeper faults in our society and body politic, and deserve closer analysis and response.
You will all agree that never since the advent of democracy in South Africa have we witnessed such massive
expression of popular voice, and made possible not least by new avenues presented by emerging multiple political
formations, and technology-driven social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook and the like.
These developments cry for analysis and understanding, in order for all of us to know what stage our democratic and
nation-building journey is currently at, and what we need to do to the continue the progress we have made.
More importantly, amidst this sense of widening restiveness and discordance, leadership - in the broad sense that
encompasses political, academic, business, religious and civil leadership – is in the spotlight, and is challenged. We
are all being asked: what does it mean to be a leader in the current conjuncture in our country?
There phenomena have both pros and cons about them. On the one hand, this popular expression is possible because
it is a right and a freedom that our struggle for democracy has bestowed to all citizens, thanks to the sacrifices of our
forebears, to whom Heritage Day is dedicated.
On the other hand, if left to unfold in amorphous fashion, these developments may, by design or not, entail a disruption
of the perspective and narrative we have thus far shared about where we have come from as a country; what we have
thus far achieved; and what we still need to do realise the goals we have set for ourselves. They entail a risk of the
democratic and transformation project being derailed or hijacked by revisionism, demagogy and populism.
It is precisely in this context, that it is imperative as Madiba enjoins us that we invoke our proud heritage as country, to
fly its flag high, not only on Heritage Day, but at all times, in order to continually inspire our progressive people; and all
progressive forces in society; in the ongoing journey towards our transformation goals.
Appraising Our Achievements, Challenges and Prospects
I believe that in upholding, and affirming, our heritage in this way, we must assert and defend the fact, and truth, that
we have made progress as country since we overthrew apartheid through our people’s heroic struggle. As a country
we tend to be very hard on ourselves, and are sometimes reticent to acknowledge and celebrate our achievements
since the dawn of democracy. And yet this is not to deny that the transformation project still has long way to go to
reach our goals and vision 2030, and beyond.
But we dare not diminish our achievements. We have converted the wrongs into a template to define the alternative
future; and values; that we aspire for; that we struggled for; and that we continue to strive for; as inscribed in our
democratic Constitution; and now mapped out in the NDP: Vision 2030.
The historical efforts and sacrifices of the people, and the individuals; that have made this breakthrough possible are
fundamental in what we define as our heritage.
Moreover, our struggle has been an undertaking that enjoyed unparalleled international solidarity; affirmed by
international values and conventions about human rights, equality and justice, that are centred in the statutes of the
United Nations, the OAU (and now African Union); all of this, too, being no less an important dimension of our heritage.
Indeed, the visit to our country by Professor Angela Davis, during this heritage month, is an appropriate and powerful
symbol of this international dimension of our heritage.
As you will know, my main responsibility as a Cabinet Minister in the apex of our government, the Presidency, is to
monitor the work we are undertaking as a government and as the country, towards attaining our goals, as outlined in
the NDP; to assess, based on evidence from data, and report on, the progress we making; the challenges we are
encountering; and to recommend the actions we need to take, to move the transformation project forward.
Let me cite some highlights of our progress:
Since 1994, the South African economy grew at 3.2% a year on average until 2012, but growth has slowed significantly
since then, with further downside prospects in the near-term, barring last quarter’s 3.3% growth, up from first quarter’s
1.2% decrease. In volume terms, real GDP growth (in 2010 constant prices), doubled from R1.6 trillion in 1994 to just
over R3.0 trillion in 2015.
GDP per capita growth averaged under 1% per year between 1994 and 2002, rising to 2% from 2003 to 2011, but
declining from 2012.
In 1993, investment was less than 15% of GDP, and in 2014 was 20.4%.
Over the past 20 years employment (both formal and informal) has grown from 9.5 million in 1994 to 16 million at the
end of 2015.
Our expansion of access to education is internationally recognised, with 71% of learners in ‘no fee’ schools in 2014,
according to StatsSA’s General Household Survey; and higher education total enrolment rising from 495 356 students
in 1994, to more than doubled that figure at 969 154 students in 2014. We have continuously improved our key
population health indicators, such as improved life expectancy, as well as reduced child and maternal mortality rates.
Our HIV/Aids programme is regarded as among the most successful globally, with 3.4 million people living with HIV
receiving lifelong Antiretroviral Therapy.
Last, but not least, since 1994 there has been massive improvement in the provision of basic services, including grid
and non-grid electricity connections, potable water and sanitation. Social assistance, covering over 16 million
beneficiaries provides for poor households who would otherwise be worse off.
Against this background of progress, I do believe that some of the recent rise in social and political disaffection derives,
in an ironic way, from the achievements we have making along the way; our successes have been fuelling
expectations, as much as they also reflect shortcomings in our performance.
Notwithstanding the progress, challenges exist. The most emotive of these is the slow pace of economic
transformation, and the continued exclusion of the black majority from ownership, control and management in the
economy; as well as the scourge of unemployment, which particularly afflicts the youth of our country. Popular
discontent is also due to the poor quality of the services provided, or poor conditions and teaching standards in public
schools.
Because transformation and development of our country is a process - a journey with some distance to go to the ideal
destination - it also leaves room for impatience by those for whom change is slow, leading to loss of a sense of being
part of a shared journey.
This room for impatience and disaffection has always called for engagement of the people concerned; it has required
ongoing conscientization and dialogue with the people. But perhaps as leaders, and leaders in every sphere, we have
not given this sufficient and sustained focus.
I believe that a discourse about our heritage offers the opportunity to revisit how we rekindle the confidence and
interest of South Africans in the transformation project; and with them to refocus on the tasks at hand. In Madiba’s
words, how we ensure that the power of “our rich and varied…heritage helps build our new nation”.
Heritage and Citizenry Defined
Definitions of heritage historically combine both natural aspects and human creations and achievements. More formal
definitions are attributed to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). In its
convention of 1972 UNESCO defines cultural heritage as including monuments, buildings and sites “which are of
outstanding universal value” from the historical, aesthetic, scientific, artistic, ethnological or anthropological viewpoints.
More recently, in 2003 UNESCO adopted the “Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage”,
which states that:
“intangible cultural heritage means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as
the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in
some cases, individuals recognise as part of their cultural heritage. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted
from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their
environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and
continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.”
These definitions have relevance in South Africa and will continue to help the evolution and appreciation of heritage in
our country. Indeed, in the speech of the late Madiba I quoted from, he went on to refer to, among the achievements
that make up our heritage:
“the tools of the Stone Age people living in South Africa millions of years ago; the sites of human settlement
hundred-and-fifty thousand years ago; unique Rock Art heritage as old as twenty-five thousand years; relics
more than a thousand years old of farming, mining and the work of artisans in Thulamela and elsewhere”. All of
which “are part of our forgotten heritage left by more than three million years if human civilisation in our country”.
On this dimension, we have much to be proud of as a nation. Our country is blessed with eight UNESCO World
Heritage Sites, namely: Robben Island, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Cradle of Humankind, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg
Park, Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, Cape Floral Region, Vredefort Dome, The Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical
Landscape. The vast oceans and coastline, diverse weather and climate, unique flora and fauna, beautiful topography
and other aspects of our natural environment provide rich natural heritage.
It is in the examination and understanding of the ancient civilisations like the ruins of Mapungubwe, the wonders of
nature like the Cradle of Human Kind, and the evolving diverse cultural practices of our people, that we continue to
discover with a sense of awe and admiration the greatness of humankind and our natural environment.
On Heritage
This year’s heritage celebrations, however, are about the living heritage that plays an important role in promoting
cultural diversity, social cohesion, reconciliation, peace and economic development. It focuses on intangible cultural
heritage with the theme of “Celebrating our Human Treasures by Asserting our African Identity”. Central to this theme
is the acknowledgement of citizenry; of people and identity, as an integral part of heritage. It is about the right and
freedom of every citizen and community to identify and decide which practices are part of their living heritage, and
celebrate them accordingly, within the framework of the values and norms of our Constitution.
As we uphold the right and freedom of all South Africans to heritage, we dare not forget our recent apartheid past, nor
allow a repeat of its wrongs against the majority of our country’s citizens.
It is in relation to issues of values; of consciousness; and the psyche, that the subject of heritage evokes intellectual
curiosity, deep emotions and our humble sense of ignorance about where we come from as individuals and as a
nation; as well as the fear of lacking full control of our future and destiny. And it is in this context that the dismay and
anger caused by the ‘’Penny Sparrow” matter, or the heat generated by “the Black students’ Hair” matter are cold
reminders of the distance that we still have to travel to achieving a truly shared heritage.
It is also in this light that our Constitution deliberately opens with the injunction for us to:
“Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and
fundamental human rights;
Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people
and very citizen is equally protected by law;
Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person; and
Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of
nations.”
It is in this context too, that heritage and citizenry are interwoven and mutually reinforcing.
It is a huge indictment of all of us that the ugly head of racism, ethnic chauvinism, xenophobia and other forms of
discrimination still show themselves in unexpected moments in our communities, public spaces, workplaces, media,
including the new social media space – to our great embarrassment as a nation.
There are several pertinent questions to ask in this regard:
1. Do we, as South Africans, know our rich and varied cultural heritage?
2. Do we know the profound power that our heritage has to contribute to nation building?
3. Do we adequately acknowledge the heritage and vision of a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society bequeathed unto us by the efforts and talents of people who dedicated themselves to the struggle for freedom?
4. Do we have the same appreciation and respect for each other’s heritage?
5. Are there achievements that deserve to be celebrated after 22 years of democracy and freedom?
According to a 2013 South Africa Social Attitudes Survey report by Human Sciences Research Council, 51% of South
Africans feel that values and traditions that are important to their own race group are threatened by the influence of
other race groups.
I believe that at the basic level, the appreciation of one’s own and other’s cultural heritage starts at home. The family
plays a fundamental role in the socialisation of children and adults alike. If children are taught to acknowledge,
appreciate and respect their own and other’s unique cultures, such a value system is more likely to endear rather than
alienate them from fellow human beings within their communities and elsewhere. Institutions of learning, such as
schools, universities and technical and vocational colleges, have a role to play in teaching and generating new
knowledge that must help us to continuously move forward on nation-building and social cohesion.
With regard to how we can harness the power of our diverse cultural heritage to build our nation and promote social
cohesion, I wish to take the cue from the NDP. Our Constitution, the NDP says, is our “national compact”. As a
supreme law of the land, the Constitution aims to transform our country into a more equitable, integrated and just
society, based on the values of human dignity, non-sexism, non-racialism and the rule of law. The NDP further states
that these values:
· “Provide the basis for a new South African identity;
· Set out a vision for how South Africa can overcome its history and build a society based on equality, freedom
and dignity;
· Enable South Africans to have a common bond and provides normative principles that ensure ease of life, lived
side by side; and
· Enable South Africans to have a common bond and provides normative principles that ensure ease o life, lived
side by side; and
· Afford broad standards by which particular actions are judged to be desirable and right.”
It is through understanding our constitutional values, principles and prescripts that as a nation we can work together to
achieve more cohesive families, communities and broader society. If our corporate cultures in the private sector,
government institutions, civil society organisations, churches, labour unions, political parties, social networks, and so
forth, espouse these constitutional values, we are more likely to improve social relations and contribute meaningfully to
nation-building.
I believe that, institutions of higher learning, such as Unisa, have a crucial role to play in ensuring that we adequately
acknowledge the heritage of a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society bequeathed to us by those who heroically
dedicated themselves to the struggle for freedom. You all can lead the nation in unearthing the rich stories of such
special individuals, both those who passed on and those alive. But so are initiatives like the Freedom Park, just across
the road. I believe as South Africans of this generation, we should not miss the opportunity to make our own
contributions in preserving this kind of heritage.
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has been tracking social cohesion indicators since
2010. According to the results of their survey, an average of 88% of South Africans feel proud to be South African. It is
heartening to note that the drivers of this very high sense of national pride are South Africa’s cultural diversity, the
beauty of our natural environment, the achievements of our constitutional democracy and the love for the people of this
country.
Furthermore, evidence from this study indicates that, on the one hand, most citizens describe themselves as South
Africans first before any other form of identity. This demonstrates a high sense of belonging in the country. On the
other hand, about 1 in 5 South Africans prefer to describe themselves by race, language, cultural group or by their
religion. This demonstrates the high premium that attached to cultural heritage.
The challenge, however, remains regarding views about race relations, where a significant number of people (49%)
increasingly believe that race relations remain the same. This shows that more work still needs to be done on the part
of government and its social partners to advance the nation building project. We must build on this strong foundation of
a very high sense of national pride and growing social interaction among various race groups to entrench trust,
tolerance, respect and appreciation of our diverse cultural heritage.
As regards acknowledging the achievements we have made as a country, the 2014 GCIS survey reported that 71% of
South Africans believed it was important to celebrate 20 years of democracy.
One of the greatest strides that we have made as a country and as a nation is the extent to which our democracy,
human rights and freedoms are not only guaranteed in the Constitution and legal prescripts, but are also freely enjoyed
by all in practice. State institutions, including the Judiciary and Chapter 9 bodies, continue to play their role in
defending these freedoms.
The highest proportion of respondents to the 2014 GCIS survey viewed freedom, democracy and peace as the
greatest achievements of our country since 1994.
This is an affirmation that our liberty is truly our heritage that we must continue to nurture and celebrate. We all have
an obligation to cherish, sustain, and enhance this precious gift through our own individual and collective efforts, and a
sense of love for our beloved country.
This leads me to the subject of citizenry.
On Citizenry
The NDP correctly recognises that attaining the vision espoused in it, is crucially dependent on citizens that are aware,
active and engaged. In the Diagnostic Overview to the NDP, such citizens are described as:
“…those who commit to a bold programme to build a better future, based on ethical values and mutual
sacrifice….The citizens of a South Africa firmly on the road to inclusion, cohesion and shared prosperity will
need to fiercely hold to account both public representatives and the public service at all levels. However, they
will be equally energetic in exercising their responsibilities. All citizens have a responsibility to build family and
community, to grow their own skill and productivity base, and that of their children and to join government in [its
efforts].
I believe that this is a citizenry that is inspired by both our natural and cultural heritage; a citizenry that learns from the
achievements of its legends in various aspects of our living heritage; and that acts today to preserve the best of our
heritage of outstanding value for the benefit of future generations. This is the kind of citizenry that is conscious of the
tenets of the Freedom Charter of 1955, which declared that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white”;
a citizenry that understands what the youth of 1976 and women of 1955 fought for; that values what the late former
President Nelson Mandela sought to achieve through the nation-building project, which includes the work of the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission, among other monumental achievements of our nation.
In practice, however, our experience on the dimension of citizenry reflects complexities and contradictions, which call
for deeper understanding, and more effective and consistent engagement with peoples’ concerns. No doubt, this is
also a fundamental lesson for all of us from the recent local government elections, and what they mean for the
trajectory of our country.
In these complexities and contradictions, is also the view that some of the underlying philosophies and approaches in
some of our policies, especially on social protection, regards may have emphasized the state as the provider at the
expense of citizen initiative and citizen empowerment, with the unintended consequence of fostering unsustainable
citizen dependency on the state. These are matters that I believe will feature in future policy discourses and debates.
In the independent research papers of 20-Year Review sponsored by Government, a summary of key achievements
and challenges is presented in relation to how government has ensured citizen engagement through various formal
and informal platforms. The Review classifies public participation and accountability mechanisms as follows:
· Firstly, participatory governance and advisory services, which are created by law and policy, such as community policing forums, school governing bodies, clinic committees and ward committees. The review concludes that, despite significant progress made in ensuring the use of these formal structures, there remains a challenge that they are sometimes not taken seriously by the State itself and only empowered citizens tend to utilise them effectively to exercise citizen power and hold government accountable. For instance, recent evidence from the Local Government Management Improvement Model of the Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation’s shows very low performance of municipalities on the “community engagement key performance area”. Most municipalities are at level 1, which demonstrates lack of compliance with the local government regulations in this regard. Most municipalities usually don’t have ward-level service delivery plans and service delivery charters.
· Thirdly, grievance mechanisms, which serve as channels for citizens to voice their grievances, such as the Presidential Hotline and many other issue-specific government hotlines. This category includes grievance mechanisms established by the Chapter 9 constitutional bodies like the Office of the Public Protector, Human Rights Commission and so forth.
· Fourthly, there are routine accountability mechanisms, which describe the scope for citizens to provide feedback at the point of service delivery, such as the complaint boxes and frontline service delivery monitoring. In this regards, the NDP asserts that “when entering a public building, citizens should be able to see what services they can expect, and where to go and who they can talk to if they do not get that service.”
Part of my monitoring activities includes regular visits to frontline service delivery facilities, such as clinics, hospitals
and schools, with some of them being unannounced visits, during which I converse with citizens. These experiences
do confirm that the concerns of many of our citizens are legitimate; such as such as lack of electricity or water or
reliable supply of these basic services, and overcrowding in schools and health facilities; as well as alcohol and drug
abuse, and crime in communities.
These monitoring activities highlight the importance of listening to citizen needs and concerns at the coal-face of
service delivery. It is also imperative that citizens are encouraged and empowered to be the agents of their
development. According to the NDP:
“Active citizenry and social activism is necessary for democracy and development to flourish. The State cannot
merely act on behalf of the people – it has to act with the people, working together with other institutions to
provide opportunities for the advancement of all communities.”
However, the proliferation of violent protests in many of our municipalities is are an alien tendency in our democracy,
and a major cause for concern. While citizens are encouraged and supported to be active and able to exercise their
democratic rights with a legitimate expectation of getting proper response from the State and its institutions. Acts of
violence and arson against schools and universities, private property and foreign nationals, and other criminal
behaviours demonstrate a deep sense of anger and alienation within citizenry, which requires analysis and new
solutions.
I believe that leadership is fundamental in catalysing change, building trust, stimulating genuine social solidarity and
rejuvenating a sense of legitimacy of the State in the eyes of the citizenry. The NDP proposes that “active citizenry
requires inspirational leadership at all levels” and all sectors of our society. It articulates the following key attributes of
leadership:
· Leaders must be able to lead by example and follow the rules that apply to everyone;
· Leaders must demonstrate honesty, integrity and trustworthiness;
· Leaders must agitate for transformation;
· Leaders must be innovative and be able to drive an essential and not necessarily popular agenda via
communication and keeping people interested and informed;communication and keeping people interested
and informed;
· Leaders must be able to listen and be able to create conditions that allow everyone to communicate in open
dialogue;
· Leaders must foster meaningful inclusion, empower the powerless, build bridges with all sectors of society and
place people at the centre of development.
Our country, our continent and the global community at large is facing complex and new challenges that require new
solutions. When addressing student doctors in 1960, Ernesto Che Guevara, the South American revolutionary, said:
“We must begin to erase our old concepts and come ever closer to the people, and with an ever more critical spirit
as we do so. Not in the way we got closer before, because all of you will say: ‘No I am a friend of the people. I enjoy
talking with workers and peasants, and on Sundays I go to such and such a place to see such and such a thing.’
Everybody has done that. But that is practising charity, and what we have to practice today is solidary.”
It is the solidarity between leaders in business, labour and government that we will be able to rescue our country from
economic stagnation; it is solidarity among different countries that will improve the socio-economic progress in our
planet; it is the solidarity between Ward Councillors and families that will bring peace and understanding in our
communities; it is solidary between politicians and civil society that will bring about genuine social dialogue; it is
solidarity between workers and employers that will bring about calm in the workplace; it is solidarity between university
management, staff and students that will bring about stability in our higher education institutions; and it is solidarity
between each one of us that will move South Africa forward.
Conclusion
In conclusion, heritage and citizenry are very fundamental in our society as espoused in the Constitution and the NDP.
As the blueprint plan that seeks to guide our actions a country on the journey to 2030, the NDP urges us to:
“Expose learners to history, heritage and culture [which are] are important for understanding the past, analysing
the present and planning for the future. They foster social understanding and cohesion, which is important for
social and economic stability and growth. The arts inspire creativity and innovation and also build social
cohesion. A holistic education widens career path choices and develops audiences and consumers in different
sectors of the economy.”
NDP is a country plan, not just a plan for government alone. We are encouraged by a range of activities that have been
initiated by citizens themselves to take the NDP forward. Again, I salute Unisa for yet another NDP Public Lecture,
which I regard as a progressive, forward-looking initiative to advance the NDP.
I urge all of us to continue to define our ideal South Africa and play our part in moving the country forward in
implementing the NDP: Vision 2030!
I thank you.
