Date: 24/09/2003
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government
Ramathlodi: Heritage Day Celebrations
SPEECH BY ADVOCATE NGOAKO RAMATLHODI, PREMIER OF LIMPOPO, DURING THE CELEBRATION OF HERITAGE DAY, Alldays, Blouberg Municipality, 24 September 2003
Programme director
My colleagues in the Executive Council and Legislature
Honourable Mayors and Councilors from various municipalities
Traditional leaders and healers present here
Representatives of the national departments and parastatals
Ladies and gentlemen
Today marks an important day that will go down in history as an emotional and overwhelming experience for the people of Limpopo and the country as a whole.
From the townships to vast farmlands of Limpopo, from the far-flung villages to suburbs of our towns, we have come here to celebrate Mapungubwe, other national symbols and related natural inheritance our forefathers and mothers have left for us to preserve and cherish.
In a month dedicated to heritage celebrations by the government, we have assembled on this ground to reaffirm our commitment to the project that seeks to preserve our own identity as Africans.
Underpinning this occasion is a common desire to recognise and acknowledge heritage, at the core of which is art and culture, as a prerequisite for the sustainable development and appropriate legacy to leave behind for future generations.
Programme director
I have got no doubt, whatsoever, in my mind that heritage has thus far distinguished itself as a catalyst for nation building and national reconciliation - inextricably it constitutes an integral element of the sound institutions that form the cornerstone of our democracy.
So, by locating heritage at the center of development we are bringing in the most important ingredient for success of our people in their forward march to a better life.
In 1992 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established the World Commission on Culture and Development that played a pivotal role in highlighting and mainstreaming the role of arts and culture in development, especially in the area of tourism.
These efforts have been instrumental in focusing the attention of governments, development agencies and the private sector on arts and culture as a powerful lever of economic growth, poverty alleviation and human development.
In June this year we saw Mapungubwe, a flourishing Iron Age metropolis and the ultra-bright star on the sky of civilisation being declared a World Heritage site. From now, henceforth, Mapungubwe is inscripted on the list of World Heritage Sites.
This positive spin-off adds the required value to the richness of our flora, fauna and unspoiled habitat we pride ourselves of as the province.
From the marketing and tourism perspective it presents us with a unique opportunity to showcase our province, our rich and varied cultural heritage and our friendly and generous people to the people of the world.
Together with the South African Heritage Resource Authority (SAHRA) and the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, we have committed funds and other resources to the development of Mapungubwe. The construction work for an adequate infrastructure is underway and in not so distant future the tourists will enjoy the hospitality of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe.
In 2004 amongst the activities that are earmarked be part of the celebrations of the Ten Years of Democracy in our free country would be the official opening of Mapungubwe Heritage Site.
On the other hand, the University of Pretoria, the institution that has done research about Mapungubwe since 1933, is hard at work with our provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to bring back the collections of Mapungubwe. We have put these exceptional treasures including golden rhinoceros at Polokwane Museum for public viewing for about three months.
Today we are also officially launching the Provincial Heritage Resource Authority (PHRA). A team of nine distinguished men and women has been appointed to ensure that matters of heritage, anthropological and archaeological studies receive the attention they deserve.
On behalf of the provincial government and the people of Limpopo, I pledge an unwavering support and wish the team everything of the best in the execution of its mandate.
Ladies and gentlemen
I need to emphatically stress that the preservation of our heritage is about the development of our people - empowering them to unlock the armory of talents, skills and ingenuity that is inherent within human beings, as displayed by those who were part of Mapungubwe Kingdom before.
I trust that as we let Mapungubwe take its rightful place in the world map of heritage, our richness and diversity of the cultural tapestry will inspire us to play a major role in the renewal of Africa and the entire global village.
The people of Mapungubwe have done it before and we dare not fail.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier
24 September 2003
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government
Ramathlodi: Heritage Day Celebrations
SPEECH BY ADVOCATE NGOAKO RAMATLHODI, PREMIER OF LIMPOPO, DURING THE CELEBRATION OF HERITAGE DAY, Alldays, Blouberg Municipality, 24 September 2003
Programme director
My colleagues in the Executive Council and Legislature
Honourable Mayors and Councilors from various municipalities
Traditional leaders and healers present here
Representatives of the national departments and parastatals
Ladies and gentlemen
Today marks an important day that will go down in history as an emotional and overwhelming experience for the people of Limpopo and the country as a whole.
From the townships to vast farmlands of Limpopo, from the far-flung villages to suburbs of our towns, we have come here to celebrate Mapungubwe, other national symbols and related natural inheritance our forefathers and mothers have left for us to preserve and cherish.
In a month dedicated to heritage celebrations by the government, we have assembled on this ground to reaffirm our commitment to the project that seeks to preserve our own identity as Africans.
Underpinning this occasion is a common desire to recognise and acknowledge heritage, at the core of which is art and culture, as a prerequisite for the sustainable development and appropriate legacy to leave behind for future generations.
Programme director
I have got no doubt, whatsoever, in my mind that heritage has thus far distinguished itself as a catalyst for nation building and national reconciliation - inextricably it constitutes an integral element of the sound institutions that form the cornerstone of our democracy.
So, by locating heritage at the center of development we are bringing in the most important ingredient for success of our people in their forward march to a better life.
In 1992 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established the World Commission on Culture and Development that played a pivotal role in highlighting and mainstreaming the role of arts and culture in development, especially in the area of tourism.
These efforts have been instrumental in focusing the attention of governments, development agencies and the private sector on arts and culture as a powerful lever of economic growth, poverty alleviation and human development.
In June this year we saw Mapungubwe, a flourishing Iron Age metropolis and the ultra-bright star on the sky of civilisation being declared a World Heritage site. From now, henceforth, Mapungubwe is inscripted on the list of World Heritage Sites.
This positive spin-off adds the required value to the richness of our flora, fauna and unspoiled habitat we pride ourselves of as the province.
From the marketing and tourism perspective it presents us with a unique opportunity to showcase our province, our rich and varied cultural heritage and our friendly and generous people to the people of the world.
Together with the South African Heritage Resource Authority (SAHRA) and the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, we have committed funds and other resources to the development of Mapungubwe. The construction work for an adequate infrastructure is underway and in not so distant future the tourists will enjoy the hospitality of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe.
In 2004 amongst the activities that are earmarked be part of the celebrations of the Ten Years of Democracy in our free country would be the official opening of Mapungubwe Heritage Site.
On the other hand, the University of Pretoria, the institution that has done research about Mapungubwe since 1933, is hard at work with our provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to bring back the collections of Mapungubwe. We have put these exceptional treasures including golden rhinoceros at Polokwane Museum for public viewing for about three months.
Today we are also officially launching the Provincial Heritage Resource Authority (PHRA). A team of nine distinguished men and women has been appointed to ensure that matters of heritage, anthropological and archaeological studies receive the attention they deserve.
On behalf of the provincial government and the people of Limpopo, I pledge an unwavering support and wish the team everything of the best in the execution of its mandate.
Ladies and gentlemen
I need to emphatically stress that the preservation of our heritage is about the development of our people - empowering them to unlock the armory of talents, skills and ingenuity that is inherent within human beings, as displayed by those who were part of Mapungubwe Kingdom before.
I trust that as we let Mapungubwe take its rightful place in the world map of heritage, our richness and diversity of the cultural tapestry will inspire us to play a major role in the renewal of Africa and the entire global village.
The people of Mapungubwe have done it before and we dare not fail.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier
24 September 2003
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