The Cabinet has called on South Africans to celebrate this year's Heritage Day by taking ownership of the country's diverse liberation heritage, as part of a national effort to build social cohesion and inclusive citizenship.

Inset: 50 steel column constructions up to 9.5 metres tall come into alignment to form a portrait of Nelson Mandela against a backdrop of rolling hills and valleys at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site outside the town of Howick in KwaZulu-Natal(Photo: Jonathan Burton, Brendan Copestake)

Heritage Day will be celebrated nationally on Monday, 24 September.

The main celebratory event will be held in Upington in the Northern Cape province, while various provincial events will also take place around the country, aimed at reminding and reconnecting the nation with its rich and diverse collective liberation heritage.

In Gauteng, Premier Nomvula Mokonyane will lead the provincial celebrations at Maropeng near the Cradle for Humankind.

The proceedings will include the provincial indigenous games, where the public will have an opportunity to play games including diketo, kgati (skipping) and intonga (stick fighting). Also on the menu is the tour of the area, and entertainment by different artists.

The Department of Arts and Culture has embarked on a programme to transform the country's heritage to ensure that it truly belongs to all who live in it.

The purpose is to use the country's liberation heritage as a vehicle to foster social cohesion, nation building, economic development and inclusive citizenship, while helping to bring an end to xenophobia and homophobia.

At its ordinary meeting this week Cabinet approved the hosting of the 40th anniversary celebration of the World Heritage Convention in South Africa from 26 to 28 September.

Acting Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams, briefing journalists in Pretoria on Friday, said the conference would afford a unique opportunity to develop an African strategy and position regarding world heritage and development.

Source: SANews.gov.za