The common origin of all humanity argued against all systems and practices that discriminate against any human being, said President Thabo Mbeki.
Writing in Friday’s edition of the African National Congress’ online publication ANC Today, he said the two national occasions celebrated this week — Proudly South African Day and National Heritage Day — communicated the important message that ”we are one people, regardless of race, colour and historical origin”.
”Together we are both South African and African. This we must understand, that the celebration of our heritage is also about our collective identity as a people.
”When we say that we are proudly South African, this must be because we recognise that we have a common heritage, that we have a joint responsibility to nurture and promote all our languages, cultures and religions, and that we share a common destiny,” Mbeki said.
South Africans could not but be proud that, as a country, they were the ”cradle of humanity”, a fact confirmed by new discoveries about the evolution of the human species.
”Our national heritage includes the World Heritage (Site) Cradle of Humanity (at the Sterkfontein Caves), which points to the common origin of all humanity and argues against all systems and practices that discriminate against any human being.
”Our national heritage includes the diverse racial and other groups that make up our population.
”That heritage also includes the various contributions that all these groups have made and are making to enable us to be Proudly South African, united in our diversity around our national symbols.” – Sapa