ADDRESS BY PREMIER T S P MAKWETLA AT THE LAUNCH OF THE HERITAGE RESEARCH MANUSCRIPT LAUNCH
Nelspruit Botanical Gardens, 28 March 2006
Our Programme Director, Mr Vuyo Mbuli,
MEC's, The Speaker and Members of the Provincial Legislature,
The CEO of the National Heritage Council,
Our Traditional Leaders and Political Leaders of the Province,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Honourable Mayors and Councillors,
Our sponsors and partners,
Business leaders and leaders of community organisations,
Senior government managers,
Members of the media,
All dignitaries present,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
On the 5 th of April 1906, in an article which appeared in “The African Abroad”, Pixley ka Isaka Seme, one of the luminaries of the time, who six years later went on to become the first Secretary General of the ANC, said, and I quote, “I would ask you not to compare Africa to Europe or to any other continent. I make this request not from any fear that such comparison might bring humiliation upon Africa. The reason I have… is that a common standard is impossible… The pyramids of Egypt are structures to which the world presents nothing comparable. The mighty monuments seem to look with disdain on any other work of human art and to vie with nature itself.” He concludes that Africa is like the golden sun (at sun-set) that, having sunk beneath the horizon, still plays upon the world which he sustained and enlightened in his career.
Programme Director, it gives me great pleasure, indeed, to stand before you on behalf of everybody who braved the sometimes irresistible comfort of our blankets, to be part of this function to receive the report of the year-long research into the heritage of our province this morning.
Programme Director, only the gods know why today had to be different from other normal days, as it were. And because we don't know why it rained all night long, and it is still raining ceaselessly, it is not wise to complain. Pity though that the rising sun of Mpumalanga is not there to witness this inspirational moment.
First of all allow me, on behalf of the province, to congratulate the team of researchers who pulled this project together under the leadership of Prof Peter Delius and convey our appreciation of their labour and enthusiasm with which they tackled this assignment. Their contribution will undoubtedly go a long way towards the advancement of development and the building of cohesive communities in our province.
At the outset we must reiterate our attitude that this research is by no means a government research project. The Mpumalanga government was only the initiator and facilitator of what is otherwise a professional endeavour, conducted within and observing high scholar ethics, protocols and discipline.
Consequently, in government, we are also straining at the end of the tether to enter the fray of debate of this exciting story. We hope to express and exchange views candidly as part of the dialogue this report will generate.
Secondly, as the researchers themselves explained, this research is not an attempt to historicise Mpumalanga as a province. Indeed, as a political entity, Mpumalanga is a new construct that is barely twelve years old.
However, it is true that the land and the people, as we all know, have a history with a remarkable depth in time and significance. This history is also a microcosm of the national history of our country, South Africa.
Consequently, it was expected that the different themes researched in this project, will unavoidably transcend our provincial boundaries because they have their own historic geographical space within which they occur.
Master of Ceremonies, it is our belief that out of this research we have procured ourselves as a province a product of many possibilities.
In the first instance, it is our hope that out of the public debate that this report will generate, we will raise the level of awareness in our communities of the history of who we are, (where we come from), and also free us of racial prejudice and assumptions from which much of colonial history we have been exposed to, is cast. As a province we now can provide more content to the popular say that we are the land of the rising sun. We undoubtedly will add to the content of our national heritage, our common flag, anthem, insignia and the national values enshrined in our constitution. We will go beyond being the people of the rainbow.
This research reveals many accounts which are strong arguments that diverse as we may be, as African communities, and as the previously colonised and colonisers, we belong together and share common origins. This should help us view ourselves, as communities, in this context, with a better appreciation of the falsehood of past political perspectives which emphasised our separateness.
Programme Director, the point I am seeking to make is that true, reconstructed, common heritage, must expedite our endeavours for nation building.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the overarching goal of all our efforts is to realise a better life for all. Reconstruction, restoration and preservation of our heritage must therefore have material benefits accruing to present day societies and communities in our province.
We expect that through the restoration of a holistic spectrum of our heritage many communities will find opportunities, for economic livelihoods in initiatives intended to market this heritage to people from outside our province and our country. The many unique and peculiar things discovered in this research must be used to sell our province as a lucrative prospect for economic activities and business. This research is a timely boost to the branding and marketing of our province.
Ladies and gentlemen, comrades, we believe that among spin-offs of this research will be the establishment of additional heritage sites, new tourist routes, the production of films. Last but not least, this report should be a valuable resource to educators for the exploration of local, history in schools, and the compilation of books, websites and other promotional material. Importantly, the province will no longer be found fascinating for its fauna and flora only.
Master of Ceremonies, in conclusion, we must make the point that it was never our understanding that this research will be the whole story about Mpumalanga nor is it the story, and the last word on the heritage of the communities of this region. We believe that this research report is a platform for further endeavours to expose and reconstruct this heritage by enthusiasts of issues in and around history and heritage. It will be one of the important achievements if this report can trigger interest and more research into many themes of what constitute our heritage.
We now have a challenge to make this report accessible and available to everybody. A simplified version for easy reading will be produced and published. Talking accessibility, the provision of translated versions will be part of the plan.
Programme Director, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have an ambitious plan to launch these fndings. Several on site displays of these findings will be organised over a period of a month, to introduce the public to this heritage in its geographic space.
It now behoves me to put the spotlight on the most important people today. First National Bank, our partner and sponsor of this project. On behalf of the administration of this province, I wish to express our sincere appreciation of your passionate commitment to the social upliftment of the people of this province.
Last, but not least, the final recognition goes to the custodians of this work – the National Heritage Council and their generous contribution and advice towards the success of this project phase. Not forgetting the team of officials in my office and the communication team that organised the work around this project.
My land, my heritage, my country.
Thank you.