24 SEPTEMBER 1999
Deputy-President Jacob Zuma
Cabinet Ministers
Valued artists
Members of the press
Distinguished guests and members of our many South African communities
Today marks the fifth occasion on which we celebrate Heritage Day - one of the most important public holidays of our new democracy.
Important because it recognises the role our diverse arts, cultures and heritages play in the building of our nation.
In previous years Heritage Day adopted various themes, themes that served to instil a new sense of patriotism in all South Africans and to build a truly united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society.
This year's Heritage Day celebration has been developed around the theme, "A nation at work for a better life". It is indeed a theme relevant to our government's ethic, President Thabo Mbeki's far-reaching vision and the people of South Africa's commitment to creating a strong and integrated society. Indeed, we are now, in just five years, a world-leader in democracy, dedicated to upholding the rights of all human beings.
We call on all South Africans to continue to work for peace, stability, a culture of tolerance and an appreciation of the wonderful rainbow nation that we have. As individuals, as communities and as a nation, we ask you to build partnerships with one anoth er and with government in an effort to create progressive change. We have a firm foundation from which to ensure equitable utilisation of resources and sustainable development to the benefit of all of our people.
Young people and adults, men and women, civil servants and the corporate sector, must all engage in partnerships to work for a better life for all. This is a responsibility of each and every South African.
We all need to work together, harder than ever, to improve the condition of our every day lives and to take South Africa forward into the new century - "the African century".
With reference to our President's state of the nation address, there must be "a common effort to transform all of us into a people at work for a better South Africa. The challenge of the reconstruction and development of our society calls for a united peop le's action, .... inspired by the call FARANANI, to draw on the energy and genius of the nation to give birth to something new, good and beautiful".
Today South Africa celebrates Heritage Day.
Here, in Pretoria, the city is staging the most spectacular Heritage Day celebrations yet and we have just viewed the march of this colourful, multi-faceted, richly diverse and creative parade.
Over five hundred South Africans from all walks of life have joined together in the parade to demonstrate in their songs and performances the unique diversity of this marvellous country. The floats before us both illustrate our multi-culturalism and repres ent some of the areas of industry that make South Africa such an emerging powerhouse.
It is a celebration which demonstrates the extraordinary richness of the South African social fabric and while this may - on the surface - appear to be a purely entertaining event, it has a serious message too in that it also illustrates the economic diver sity of our heritage.
In addition it is heart warming to see all of you, the many thousands of ordinary - perhaps one should say, extraordinary - people who have come to Pretoria to join the jubilation of this event.
All of us have a heritage - a place from where we come, ancestors and past history.
But, here in our fledgling democracy, we are creating a new heritage and re-contextualising the legacy of the past. A heritage in which we can all find meaning and expression and share together as South Africans.
Our multi-cultural heritage is our strength.
I wish you - and all South Africans - happiness and joy this Heritage Day.
Thank you.