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Minister Nathi Mthethwa launched Heritage Month 2014 on 31 August under the theme: “Celebrating 20 Years of Democracy: Tell Your Story that Moves South Africa Forward”.

Heritage Month recognises aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and intangible: creative expression such as music and performances, our historical inheritance, language, the food we eat as well as the popular memory.

Various heritage sites and infrastructures in South Africa are named after the liberation struggle icons, e.g.:

•     The Sol Plaatjie Municipality in the Northern Cape
•     The Nelson Mandela Museum in the Eastern Cape
•     Luthuli House in Gauteng
•     Shaka Zulu Airport in KwaZulu-Natal
•     Tshwane Municipality in Gauteng
•     Steve Biko Memorial in the Eastern Cape.
•     Bram Fischer International Airport in Free State; and many others.

In addition to these, other liberation struggle heroes in the fields such as threatre, literature, music, labour movements includes:

•     Rahima Moosa
•     Bessie Head
•     Frances Baard
•     Ruth First
•     Olive Schreiner and the list is endless.

South Africa also acknowledges the support and solidarity provided by its neighbouring States during the era of oppression and there are Heritage Sites and Infrastructures named after these iconic African leaders. The Samora Machel Monument at Mbuzini in Mpumalanga and the Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in the North West are some of the examples.

South Africa is also home to eight of the 981 World Heritage Sites which are recognised by the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation as places of outstanding cultural and historical importance.

These sites are:

•     Robben Island
•     iSimangaliso Wetlands Park
•     the hominid sites at Swartkrans, Sterkfontein and Kromdraai (known as the Cradle of Humankind)
•     Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park (mixed natural and cultural)
•     Mapungubwe Heritage Site
•     Cape Floral Kingdom
•     Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape.
•     Vredefort Dome.

The sites offer a diversity and abundance of cultural and natural values that encapsulate the value systems of the country.

In addition to these sites, the country has 17 national heritage sites and the country is taking steps to protect more of its heritage sites.

Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture