(The following debate was delivered in the KZN Legislature during a Sitting held today)
Heritage Month is a time to celebrate South Africa – and KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) – diverse cultures. It is also a time for us to also reflect on the many things that bind us together, as a province and a nation as we are reminded that our shared identity is built on many voices, traditions and histories. This weaves together to create something truly unique.
KZN is blessed with an extraordinary richness of heritage. We are the proud home of the Zulu nation, with its traditions of resilience, storytelling and community. We celebrate our Indian community, whose ancestors arrived as indentured labourers in 1860 and who have since shaped our cuisine, commerce and culture. We honour our Coloured community, with its rich artistic and cultural contributions and our White South African community – with Afrikaans and English roots deeply tied to the province’s farming, educational and civic history.
There are other smaller communities that have left a footprint on our province and together, we form a living mosaic – one that is strongest when every piece is respected.
Heritage is more than monuments and museums – it is language, music, dance, food, faith and family. It is the stories we tell and the traditions we pass down to our children. By appreciating each other’s heritage, we build bridges of understanding. Social cohesion is not created through uniformity, but through unity in diversity.
KZN is a province where history speaks through its landscapes. Through the world-renowned uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountains and the Sibudu Caves – both UNESCO World Heritage Sites – where San rock art and archeological digs tell the story of the earliest inhabitants. And through the Battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, which remind us of the bravery and sacrifices of both Zulu warriors and soldiers during times of conflict.
Our province’s museums have wonderful displays that tell stories of where we come from, along with the painful story of apartheid. The 1860 Heritage Centre honours the journey of Indian South Africans, and The Indentured Labourers Monument, currently in under construction on Durban’s Golden Mile, show that KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) is serious about honouring and commemorating all of our heritages.
From the Spirit of eMakhosini in Ulundi to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site in Howick, KZN holds stories of kings, workers, activists and ordinary people – each shaping who we are today.
When we protect our heritage, we protect our identity. When we celebrate our heritage, we celebrate freedom – the freedom to speak our language, cook our food, worship in our faith and express ourselves without fear. Heritage is a compass – it shows us where we come from, so that we may know where we are going.
In his address on Heritage Month, KZN Premier, Thami Ntuli, was honest in saying that we need to appreciate each other’s heritage and cultures. We cannot carry on only celebrating our own cultures.
The question is: How do we honour heritage in a way that unites us?
• We do so by visiting one another’s heritage sites – a Zulu child learning the history of the Indian indentured labourers; an Indian family walking the Drakensberg caves to see San rock art; an English-speaking family experiencing and hearing about the Valley of the Kings or Spirit of eMakhosini.
• We do so by sharing our foods – from bunny chow to braaivleis, from samp and beans to curry and sosaties, reminding us that the dinner table is often the best classroom.
• We do so by embracing each other’s languages, even if just a greeting in isiZulu, Afrikaans, or isiXhosa – showing respect for the words that shape identity and;
• We do so by teaching our children that heritage is not just history – it is a living, breathing expression of pride and respect.
Heritage Day is not just about wearing traditional clothes or enjoying a braai. It is about recognising that every culture in KZN has a place, a story and a value. It is about honouring the past, celebrating the present and safeguarding the future.
The DA believes in building a South Africa where diversity is cherished and heritage is a source of unity, not division. Today, let us commit ourselves to celebrating not only our own culture, but also the heritage of our neighbours, colleagues, and friends – because when we celebrate together, we build the social cohesion that our province and our country so urgently need.
The DA is committed to championing this value of diversity.
We are indeed a nation rich in diversity. Smaller communities have also left their mark, and together we form a living and breathing fabric reflected in our flag. One that is strongest when every piece is respected and when it comes together. When embraced, our diversity is a bulwark against discrimination, uniformity of thought, and closed thinking at the very least.
The DA, as a committed partner within the GPU, unequivocally believes that our diversity is our strength. Where others exploit differences for division, the DA sees diversity as the foundation of unity. Our heritage informs our freedom to associate independently and without coercion. These ideals are non-negotiable.
Today, let us commit ourselves not only to celebrating our own culture, but also to embracing the heritage of our neighbours, colleagues, and friends. Because when we celebrate together, we grow together. When we grow together, we build a province that is stronger, freer, and united in its diversity. Heritage must unite our people, it should not be exploited for division, nor should it be used as weapon – instead, it must be used as a bridge.