HERITAGE DAY 2001

BACKGROUND

After South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, a Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed.

Government agreed that prior to the 1994 elections, there were important historical days that the apartheid government did not recognise.

These days were "unofficially" commemorated but not part of calendar of public holidays.

Cabinet decided that there should be a day (24 September) on which South Africans commemorate their heritage.
The Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST), as the custodian of South Africa's culture, was given the responsibility to plan and manage events for Heritage Day at national level annually.
The first Heritage Day commemoration took place on 24 September 1995.

Although South Africans have diverse cultures, elements of national unity, nation building, reconciliation and national patriotism should be emphasised.
The ideal is to preserve, exhibit and promote our diverse but connected cultures.
Heritage Day should encourage the youth, in particular, to embrace South Africa's common heritage.

MINMEC decided that the theme for Heritage Day 2001 should be Celebrating National Symbols.
MINMEC declared the week of 17-24 September 2001 as National Symbols Week.
The rationale behind this theme is that most South Africans do not understand the role of national symbols in nation building.
The symbols to be emphasised are:

Anthem
Flag
Coat of Arms

Government also realises that since South Africa became a democratic country, there have not been enough efforts to educate the public about the importance of national symbols.

Our national symbols do not receive the dignified respect they deserve.

It is often due to lack of information than disrespect that the majority of South Africans do not observe the national symbols.

Consequently, places such as museums and monuments, even those established recently under the democratic government, still do not enjoy patronage by all sections of the society.

Museums and monuments are still generally alien to the ordinary South Africans.

Government is also aware that national symbols can play an important role towards reconciliation and patriotism if programmes to popularise the nation are introduced.

The performance/singing of the national anthem by ordinary members of the public is still characterised by racial patterns.

This divisive situation does not augur well for our democracy and needs to be changed.

It is also necessary that government popularise the new coat of arms and make it the trademark of South Africa.

Government acknowledges that it needs to do more to popularise the national symbols and therefore it would be inaccurate to conclude that all of these negative patterns are manifestations of non-patriotism and defiance.

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OBJECTIVES OF HERITAGE DAY 2001

Promote the Heritage theme of Celebrating National Symbols

Encourage the public to fight for unity, reconciliation, tolerance and common heritage between cultural groups.

Create awareness to the public that national symbols could play a unifying role and instil a sense of patriotism among South Africans

Mobilise the entire country across cultural and racial lines celebrate Heritage Day as one nation

Create awareness and educate the public about the national symbols and their importance

Position national symbols as metaphors of national pride and elements of democracy

Emphasise the importance of active participation by ordinary South Africans to make democracy and social integration work for all.

THEME

Celebrating national symbols

CELEBRATING OUR NATIONAL SYMBOLS

What are our National Symbols?

Our national symbols are those official visual and verbal marks that identify us as a nation. National symbols are defined in terms of the Constitution and are meant to promote reconciliation and nation building. In the constitution it is stated that the Republic of South Africa is a sovereign democratic state founded on the following values:

Human dignity, the achievement of equality and advancement of human rights and freedoms
Non-racialism and non-sexism
The supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law
Universal adult suffrage, national common voters roll, regular election, and a multiparty system of democratic government to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness.

These values are expressed in South Africa's:

National Flag which we see as flying in the wind

National Anthem which we hear being played on official occasions and which is sung by us at schools and at sports events

National Coat of Arms which we see on government buildings, documents, vehicles, etc.

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The National Flag The new national Flag of the Republic of South Africa was taken into use on 27 April 1994. It was	larger picture
hoisted just after midnight as the new nation was born. The design and colours of the flag are an outline of the principal colours of South Africa's flag history, from the earliest times to the present.

There are a few important rules to adhere to when using the national Flag:

The flag should be treated with respect. It should not be allowed to drag on the ground or have something paced on top of it.

A flag is read like a book - from top to bottom and from left to right. Therefore it should be displayed in the correct manner:

When displayed horizontally, the hoist should be to the left of the spectator and the red band uppermost. When the flag is flown upside down, it is a sign that the country is in distress

When displayed vertically against a wall, the red band should be on the left of the spectator with the hoist uppermost

When displayed next to or behind the speaker, it should be placed on the speaker's right hand.

When the National Flag is displayed with other flags, it should be:

Hoisted first and lowered last

On the spectators' left if displayed on crossed staffs and its staff

must be in front of the staff of the other flag

On the marching right in a procession with another flag/s

and on the right of a building when flown with national flags or other countries (all same size and flown at equal height).

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The National Anthem

Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo,
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa la matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,
Setjhaba sa South Afrika - South Afrika.
Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes,
Waar die kranse antwoord gee,
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.

This is the official version of the national Anthem, combining Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, Die Stem and The Call of South Africa. As with all our National Symbols, the National Anthem should be treated with dignity and respect when played or sung.

The National Coat of Arms

The role of a Coat of Arms

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The national Coat of Arms, or State symbol, is the highest visual symbol of the State. Take a minute to consider the important events in your life - birth, marriage, death and school certificates, your passport - they are all made official by the Coat of Arms. Your smallest coin has it on one of its sides. When away from the country seeing this symbol on the embassy building signals a home away from home. The Coat of Arms is also a central part of the Great Seal, traditionally considered to be the highest symbol of the State. Absolute power is given to every document with a mark of the Great Seal on it, as this means that it has the support of the President of South Africa.

A new Coat of Arms replaced one that has served South Africa since 17 September 1910. The change reflects Government's aim to highlight the democratic change in South Africa and a new sense of nationalism.

Conclusion

Symbols have been used as an easy way of democratically empowering especially those South Africans who have for so long been excluded from most of the decision-making processes in this country. The symbols of political parties were used in the 1994 election for easy identification on ballot papers.

The three primary national symbols dealt with here represent this new democracy and replace all previous equivalent symbols. Key values underpinning these new symbols are reconciliation, unity in diversity and nation building. Through these symbols every South African is encouraged, mobilised, energised and inspired to own the process of taking this nation from a divided past to a unified future.

Issued by the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, 14 September 2001

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Last modified: 22 February 2008 08:10:56.