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21 September 2007

The North West Provincial Government will celebrate this year's Heritage Day at Goedgevonden (Ventersdorp) on Monday, 24 September 2007.

The focus of this year's Heritage Month is on celebrating poetry. In celebrating South African poetry, the people of the North West will recall and celebrate its world renowned writer, poet, translator, journalist and one of the pioneer veterans of the struggle for a democratic, non-racial South Africa - Solomon Thekisho Plaatje. Plaatje was not only the first Secretary General of the African Native National Congress (later ANC), but was also a prolific writer, poet and journalist. He translated many of William Shakespeare's plays into Setswana, and in so doing left a rich heritage for Setswana, the Translation profession and future generations of Setswana speakers.

The provincial government is committed to promoting a culture of reading and writing as well as encouraging equitable development of all South African languages. Accordingly, government aims to use poetry to stimulate the growth and development of South African literature in indigenous African languages and to create new audiences, especially among the youth. This year Heritage Day will see a celebration of our diverse languages through poetry in pursuit of a shared identity.

Government urges all our people to join it as we celebrate our diverse heritage by renewing our pledge to build a South Africa with an identity that is shared by all who live in it.

Enquiries:

Cornelius Tanana Monama
Spokesperson
Tel: 018 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063

Issued by: North West Provincial Government
21 September 2007