Heritage Day 2025: celebrate, protect and pass on our heritage
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement
In commemoration of this year’s Heritage Day, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) would like to remind South Africans about the importance of our diverse cultures and uniqueness.
As we celebrate Heritage Month, we must consider that there are some setbacks surrounding our heritage. For instance, when looking back at the past 31 years, what is sad is that people have been assimilated to tourists of their own heritage. Our identity is no longer an anchor of our daily lives; it is something we now visit occasionally. Western cultures and tendencies have now formed habits which create new identities and heritages. It is these new heritages that the current generations will bequeath to forthcoming generations, and old ones will be extinct if we do not do something about it.
We must invest in the preservation of South African history and heritage. Our government and other related sectors and stakeholders should invest more funding in creative productions that teach South Africans about their history and heritage; cultural storytelling through film, theatre and documentaries to make our past accessible, engaging and inspiring.
We acknowledge and congratulate the producers who have been filming and delivering an exceptional portrayal of South African stories and its rich history. Indeed, nations are made up of a collection of stories and legends. These stories shape the way we think about our country and our standing within it. And for our children to know exactly where they are going, they first need to understand where they come from. That is an important symbol of heritage.
Our identity cannot be bound solely by sporting triumphs, such as the excitement surrounding the Springboks’ victories. True nationhood is built on a shared understanding of history, culture and heritage. That is the framework through which we understand our collective purpose and navigate our shared destiny, and it must be actively nurtured for generations yet to come.
On this Heritage Day, the UDM calls on all South Africans to celebrate not only the diversity of our cultures but also to commit to their preservation. Let us pass on traditions, languages and stories with pride, so that future generations inherit a South Africa that honours its past while building a united and inclusive future.
