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ARTICLE: CULTURAL DIVERSITY, DIALOGUE AND DEVELOPMENT: MANAGING EFFECTIVELY WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE

diversity editThe 21st of May is World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

It is recognised to provide an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to “live together” better.

The South African Constitution fully recognises the diverse nature of our society and states that South Africa belongs to all who live in it – united in our diversity.

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ARTICLE: CONFUSING RACIAL PREJUDICE WITH LANGUAGE RIGHTS

languageRemarks made by Prof Jonathan Jansen – Rector of the University of the Free State – in the Percy Baneshik Memorial Lecture to the English Academy of South Africa on 18 September, have caused a furore in Afrikaans cultural and educational circles. They have been widely interpreted as a call for English-only education and as a claim that “Afrikaans-exclusive or even Afrikaans-dominant white schools and universities represent a serious threat to race relations in South Africa”.

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ARTICLE: HERITAGE AFTER HERITAGE DAY 2013: CULTURAL TACTLESSNESS

culture The recent statements made by Arts and Culture Minister, Paul Mashatile, as well as Pretoria/Tshwane executive mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa – only three days after South Africa celebrated Heritage Day – raise questions regarding their commitment to the Preamble of the Constitution to “heal the divisions of the past” and that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity”.

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ARTICLE: HERITAGE DAY 2013: NOT JUST ANOTHER WALK (BRAAI) IN THE PARK?

braai-day One of the most important aspects recognised in the Constitution of South Africa, is the importance of our collective heritage and the rich cultural, linguistic and historical diversity of our people.

This includes the heritage of all our peoples – from the first nations of South Africa – the KhoiKhoi, Nama and San; our indigenous African peoples – the Zulus, Xhosas, Ndebeles and Swazis; the Tswana, Pedi and South Sotho, Tsonga and Venda; white South Africans descended from the Dutch, English, German and French settlers; our extended coloured community; to the Asians who arrived from the Dutch East Indies in the 17th and 18th centuries, and from India during the 19th century.

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The FW de Klerk Foundation Annual Conference

The FW de Klerk Foundation Annual Conference – hosted in conjunction with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung – took place on 31 January 2025. The theme of this year’s conference is: “South Africa’s Position in the World Today”.
 

 Esteemed speakers include Ambassador Andreas Peschke (Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany); Magda Wierzycka (CEO of Sygnia); Dr Harlan Cloete (Local Governance and Public Leadership – Research Fellow) and Johan “Rassie” Erasmus (Springbok Coach).