Welcoming remarks at the National Reconciliation Day event
Welcoming Remarks by Provincial Minister Ricardo Mackenzie
Day of Reconciliation
Vredendal, 16 December 2024
1. Programme Director,
2. His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa
3. Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton Mckenzie,
4. Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Me Peace Mabe
5. Provincial Minister of Infrastructure, Mr Tertuis Simmers,
6. Religious leaders,
7. Traditional leaders
8. Leaders of the San and Khoi communities
9. Deputy Mayor of West Coast District Municipality: Ald. Sandra Crafford.
10. Senior Government Officials from all spheres of government
11. Distinguished guests, dignatories and
People of South Africa
Goeie Dag. Molweni. Dumelang. Sanibonani from the beautiful Vredendal here in the Western Cape.
Mr President Baie dankie dat u vandag hier in die Weskus is. It's always lekker in the Weskus! The beauty and spirit of this region are unmatched. I am honoured to welcome you all to Vredendal, situated near the historically significant site of Ratelgat and only an hour from the most recently inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour, which includes Diepkloof Rock Shelter.
This year also marks 30 years of democracy and it is an important time to pause and reflect on how far we have come as country.
Today as a nation we unite behind the motto written in the ancient San language of the |Xam people, whose literal meaning is “Divers People Unite”. This means that we need to see our diversity as a strength which must be harnessed to solve some of our most difficult challenges, driven by the enormous talents of all our people. It is important that we immerse ourselves in each other’s cultures to improve understanding and mutual respect, made possible by the knowledge and realization that we share a common destiny regardless of the colour of our eyes.
I recently spent time with the Griqua National Conference at Ratelgat, and I want to extend my gratitude to Opperhoof Le Fleur and the entire Griqua National Conference for their warm hospitality and for their deep commitment to share their knowledge and heritage with all of us. I would also like to thank Dr Thabo Manetsi and his team at the National Heritage Council for working towards the preservation of the rich heritage of this site towards healing our historical wounds.
Ratelgat holds a profound significance for our nation. It represents the resilience of the Griqua people and serves as a sacred spiritual space to heal historical wounds and forge new futures. Sites like Ratelgat are essential to preserving the cultural fabric of our country, reminding us of the deep historical and spiritual connections we must honour.
On this important Day of Reconciliation, we must reflect on the role of culture and heritage to heal historical wounds and bring us closer together. To truly reconcile, we must understand our collective history, recognize the injustices of the past, as advocated by our constitution, and use our diverse cultures to forge and imagine alternate futures! Whether it’s the stories of the Khoi, Griqua, San, amaXhosa, amaZulu, Coloured, Bapedi or Afrikaner communities, our diverse cultures and shared histories are the foundation of our national identity and should shape our National Reconciliation and our joint national futures!
Culture and heritage are our new gold. They are treasures that must be protected, promoted, and preserved—not only for ourselves but for future generations. Under the Government of National Unity, we dare not miss the opportunity to elevate and safeguard the indigenous languages, because when we lose the languages we lose entire ways of knowing and seeing the world.
Reconciliation cannot be achieved without understanding. Mr President, reconciliation begins with the ability to think critically about our past, to understand our present, and to forge better futures .
Moreover, let us not forget the importance of preserving our indigenous languages and knowledge systems, which are vital to our cultural preservation and our identity.
Finally, as we reflect on this Day of Reconciliation, let us embrace the role that we as South Africa have played in shaping humanity. The inscription of our latest World Heritage site The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour, also known as The Cradle of Human Culture - which includes Diepkloof Rock Shelter right here in the Weskus, confirmed that we gave humanity the gift of imagination and creativity! The artefacts found here, including the engraved ostrich eggshells provide us with a glimpse into the cognitive and cultural beginnings of humankind. This site bridges the distant past with the present, reminding us of the rich heritage we must protect and preserve for future generations. — So when visitors come to our shores, let us proudly say, “Welcome home! Welkom tuis! Wamkelekile ekhaya!” Welcome, not only to the Cradle of Humankind, but also to the Cradle of Human Culture!
Together, let us ensure that South Africa’s heritage remains a beacon of hope for the world. May our collective efforts bring true reconciliation, not only for our nation but for all of humanity in our shared futures!
As I welcome you all to the beautiful Weskus, I invite you to experience everything this region has to offer—our Westcoast oysters, our crayfish, our roosterkoek, our vetkoek, our ⁸, our buchu, our rooibos, our smul lekker malva poeding and the vibrant rieldans that showcases the heartbeat of our community. Die Weskus is die beste kus!
I wish all of you wonderful a blessed Reconciliation day and if you travel over this festive season, please drive safely and enjoy your time off.
Thank you, Mr President! Geniet die Weskus!