Heritage Day reminds us that our society has resilient foundations

IT’S EASY to see Heritage Day as a break from school or work, or an excuse to braai with friends and family. But its significance is much greater.

- MANKODI MOITSE

POPPYMORE Tharollo from Bluff in Durban couldn't resist the site of a Heritage day celebration mural in her area.

(TUMI PAKKIES Independent Newspapers)

It's a day to remember the foundations of our society - and the way they retain their value as the basis for a more equitable future.

South Africa's multifaceted heritage has been shaped by thousands of years of human history and the convergence of diverse cultures, languages and traditions.

And as we celebrate Heritage Day on 24 September, the country is still grappling with how to honour this complex inheritance while building a more inclusive future.

This is a challenge for communities, businesses, governments and development agencies such as Kagiso Trust, which traces its foundations to the apartheid era.

The Trust is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and works in areas of society where the legacy of centuries of oppression still limits people’s potential.

However, South Africa’s heritage can help it build a better future. Many cultural traditions embody sophisticated knowledge systems, and sustainable development recognises that solutions, which incorporate traditional wisdom are more likely to be embraced by communities.