MEDIA RELEASE
2025-09-24

SUMMARY: The Labour Party observes Heritage Day celebrating South Africa’s diverse cultures and shared history, a unity Nelson Mandela saw as nation-building. The Labour Party connects this spirit to federalism, with Joseph Mathunjwa arguing that empowering provinces can protect cultural heritage, reduce inequality, and drive growth. He urged South Africans to reject poor leadership and embrace both diversity and shared struggle to build a just and prosperous nation.

Heritage Day today is celebrated in various ways, notably South Africans bring their diverse cultures into schools, universities and workplaces. Nelson Mandela captured the essence of Heritage Day, stating; “When our first democratically elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation. ” This is in recognition of our diverse cultures in South Africa but also as a call to treat one another with respect and uphold each culture’s dignity daily.

Building on this spirit of diversity, the Labour Party believes federalism can further protect our cultures. A federal system of governance promotes cultural diversity by establishing autonomous states. Each province can harness its unique resources, ensuring local economic growth. A federal system of governance also promotes the observance and preservation of cultural diversity by establishing states.

“God has blessed each province with minerals that can build its own economy-federalism can do this!” interim President of the Labour Party Joseph Mathunjwa emphasised. “It is no wonder, that extreme class divisions persist because the meansof production are concentrated among the elite, leaving the working class marginalized. ” he added.

The Labour Party is not blind to the shared heritage among South Africans – the injustices, bloodshed and struggles which are intricately woven into the South African shared heritage.

“We will not forget the past, but we must strive for a better South Africa today!” Mathunjwa stated. “If as South Africans we can stop being tolerant of horrible leadership – we will begin to see South Africa be prosperous”. Mathunjwa said.

“By embracing both our shared heritage and diversity, we can build a South Africa that is prosperous, just, and united.” He added. “We cannot allow so called civilisation to extinguish culture – culture is who we are. Culture directs us.” Mathunjwa concluded.

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