01 September 2026

As South Africa enters Heritage Month under the theme “Celebrating Our Living Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us,” the ANC Parliamentary Caucus calls on all South Africans to reflect on our shared values and actively build a more cohesive, equal society.

Heritage extends beyond monuments and tradition; it is the living expression of our shared humanity. To truly honour it, we must embody Ubuntu daily by defending human dignity, standing firmly against discrimination, and intensifying the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). No cultural tradition justifies the abuse of women and children or the violation of human rights.

Furthermore, heritage must drive economic empowerment. Our rich cultural assets from creative industries and indigenous knowledge to heritage tourism, offer vital opportunities for SMME development, local enterprise, and youth employment. Communities are urged to invest in their unique cultural wealth to create sustainable livelihoods.

This Heritage Month, let us protect our languages, traditions, and historical sites, using our diversity to strengthen social cohesion, combat GBVF, and build a South Africa rooted in dignity, peace, and shared prosperity for all.

ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS

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