Young people should embrace their culture and heritage with dignity and respect.
This was the key message delivered when the Gugulethu Development Forum (GDF) and the Department of Human Settlements held a Heritage Day event at the civic hall on Monday September 24.
Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Zou Kota-Fredericks and other dignitaries started the day by doing a cleaning campaign around Khikhi area before proceeding to the hall for the main event.
Ms Kota-Fredericks said through the event, they wanted to celebrate and honour the diversity of cultures that exists in the country and
to recognise the rich history of Gugulethu, which this year marks 60 years since its establishment.
She said it was also important that young people were informed about leaders that had been produced by this community.
Ms Kota-Fredericks also took the opportunity to appeal to parents and grandparents to pass on their knowledge to their children. She said language was the carrier of history and one of the most important parts of one’s culture.
“We must be proud of our culture. We should also use such days to talk about the history and heritage of our areas. We must teach our children the values and importance of keeping tradition and culture. I applaud young people who take part in cultural activities because it is through them that we can preserve our culture. The future and growth of our future lies with us,” she said.
Wardcouncillor Luvuyo Zondani said black people often undermined their cultures and disassociated themselves from it when they should, in fact, be proud of their heritage.
Secretary of the GDF, Vincent Domingo, called on government to make African history a compulsory subject at school as he believed this could help to unite Africans and create a deeper understanding of each others cultures.