By Palesa Nguqu
Deputy President Paul Mashatile is expected to deliver a keynote address at the 2025 Heritage Day celebrations on Wednesday at the Bridgeton Sport Grounds in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape.
The event is organised in partnership with the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and the Western Cape Provincial Government. This year’s Heritage Month is observed under the theme: “Re-imagine Our Heritage Institutions for a New Era.”
The Presidency said the focus will be on leveraging heritage as a foundation for building a socially responsive, technologically innovative, and economically inclusive future.
Special emphasis will be placed on the role of museums as custodians of memory and knowledge, and as institutions uniquely positioned to lead this transformation.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Madibeng, North West, will commemorate Heritage Day with a programme of events across the municipality, including activities in Lethlabile, Brits, and Hartebeespoort.
The celebrations will feature traditional cuisine and music, cupcake sharing with the elderly, an oversight visit to Brits Rusoord, and Boer handmade soap-making demonstrations.
The events will be led by DA provincial leader and constituency head Leon Basson, alongside local councillors, activists, and party members.
DA Provincial Communications Manager Christi Lene Gericke said the programme is designed with inclusivity in mind.
“We will ensure accessibility for residents, including the elderly and vulnerable groups. Events spread across multiple locations will allow broader participation, while tailored activities ensure that older residents feel included and valued,” she explained.
Local DA councillor Erna Rossouw said the initiative is about more than celebration.
“Along with residents, the DA will honour Heritage Day by encouraging unity, celebrating traditions, and recommitting to a future rooted in accountability, inclusivity, and opportunity,” she said.
The ANC has also urged South Africans to embrace the 2025 theme, “Re-imagine Our Heritage Institutions for a New Era.”
“This year we honour the profound legacy of the 70th Anniversary of the Freedom Charter—a living testament that continues to guide our journey of transformation, justice, and unity,” said ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu.
Bhengu added: “Heritage Month embodies the spirit of Ubuntu, our shared identity, and our capacity to overcome division through solidarity. We are a nation of multilingual storytellers, freedom fighters, artisans, and spiritual custodians. Our collective traditions—rural, urban, and indigenous—define who we are.”
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