NELSPRUIT – South Africa remains a deeply divided society, said Ms Sibongile Manana, MEC for culture, sport and recreation on Thursday. She was addressing participants at the province’s first social cohesion summit, which was aimed to get the public’s voices on Mpumalanga’s draft strategy to improve unity.
Manana cited the concept of unbuntu whereby people’s well-being was interconnected to those of others as underlying the draft strategy.
She said it was important for different people in the rainbow nation to learn about the cultures of others and that inequality can be addressed through better service delivery. “It would improve if we could all have a better life because of service delivery and we can eradicate poverty.”
After multi faith prayers and music and dance performances by a variety of ethnic and cultural groups, the participants broke up into six commissions meant to discuss different aspects of improving social cohesion. High school student Sadiyya Manjra had the opportunity to facilitate the discussion on impediments limiting an inclusive society alongside Mr Ephraim Magagula, the department’s chief director of special projects.
The commission’s vocal scribe, Mr Shaka Mkhawanazi, said, “The problem is that we are trying to change each other and that is a big mistake.” He suggested that cultural differences be taught in school so people could better understand each other from an early age.
The role of the media also elicited a lively conversation from participants, with concerns over the media often reporting only on the negative side of things the government for instance does. The facilitator, Ms Irma Green who is the managing editor of Lowveld Media, noted that in her experience, government tended to react to negative press, instead of brag about its achievements.
Other commissions addressed the role civil society can play, stregthening interaction, economic growth and a public private partnership.
See more images from the day here.
