By OBAKENG MAJE
16 Dec 2024- The president of Republic of South Africa (RSA), Cyril Ramaphosa said the Day of Reconciliation is an occasion, where the country remembers and celebrates its journey towards nation-building, healing, social justice and forgiveness. Ramaphosa said this day is dedicated to ‘healing historical wounds and forging new futures’.
He further said for much of the history, this day – the 16th of December – stood as a symbol of the wounds of their history. Ramaphosa added that, for some it was a celebration of victory.
“For others, it was a painful reminder of conquest and dispossession. Since the advent of democracy, we have sought to do away with symbols that are divisive.
“We chose to mark the 16th of December as a day of reconciliation. A celebration of our unity in diversity. It gives me great pleasure to commemorate this year’s Reconciliation Day here in Vredendal, the Valley of Peace,” he said.
Ramaphosa said history has no blank pages. He said under the inhumane apartheid system farmworkers bore the brunt of exploitation.
“White commercial farms were built on the labour of slaves and South Africa’s indigenous people. Since the advent of democracy 30 years ago, we have driven a series of legislative changes to advance the rights of farmworkers.
“We have passed a law to prevent the arbitrary eviction of families living on farms. And yet we know that farmworkers and labour tenants are still being evicted in a number of places without being afforded alternate accommodation,” said Ramaphosa.
He said they call on all employers to treat people humanely and ensure that they have decent accommodation. Ramaphosa said they insist that all should ensure that the law is uphold and the rights of all people are protected.
“The working conditions of farmworkers are regulated by the Labour Relations Act. For the first time, minimum wages were set for farmworkers. Now, no farmworkers may be paid below the National Minimum Wage.
“As part of land reform, we have encouraged employment share schemes. This is where workers in agriculture and other sectors can have shares in the companies that they work for,” he said.
Ramaphosa said There have been initiatives in the Matzikama area to implement this approach. He said they must look at how to expand this, so that the people in this area have a greater share of the local economy.
“Fellow South Africans, Reconciliation Day is about advancing reconciliation, justice and nation-building. It promotes social cohesion and healing. The past may be behind us but we are left with its wounds.
“We have deep scars as a reminder of our painful experiences. We cannot heal these historical wounds by forgetting our past. There are things that should be done to heal the wounds of the past,” said Ramaphosa.
He said, but they must also learn from the past. Ramaphosa said they have come a long way as a country of diverse cultures, languages, beliefs and traditions.
“Here in Vredendal, we have a beautiful and diverse community that is an integral part of our rainbow nation. Here, a person can be as proud of their coloured heritage or their Afrikaans language as they are of their South African identity.
“They can be white or African or Indian, speak English or Xhosa or any other language, while being a full and equal member of the South African nation,” he said.
Ramaphosa said history records the great acts of political activism by the people of this province. He said coloured people were not spared the brutality of slavery, dispossession and segregation.
“The apartheid regime tried to divide us and turn us against one another, but they did not succeed. Through democracy, we have worked to restore the dignity of all who suffered under apartheid, including coloured people.
“Our national Coat of Arms pays tribute to the Khoi and San. The human figures are depicted in an attitude of greeting, symbolising unity. This represents a sense of belonging to the nation and to a collective humanity,” said Ramaphosa.
The Guardian 