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heritage, noun – important parts of society’s history and culture

This year’s Heritage Day falls auspiciously between the events of Marikana and those at Mangaung later this year. As South Africans we have a lot to think about and digest as we re-form our nation. Like it or not the Apartheid years are part of our common heritage, as are the colonial years before that. In fact our shared heritage goes back a long way; more than many of us can or wish to remember. There is also a great deal of evidence that has emerged in recent years that the human species that we all now form part of, had its origin here in this region of the globe. What a heritage that is! We therefore have a very deep and rich heritage that unites us regardless of the diversity that has emerged with the passage of time. It is somewhat ironic that the national motto of our country under apartheid rule was “Ex unitate vires” – From unity comes strength. This is a truism that should not be chucked out along with the street names and rights of ownership in the name of transformation. And in order to be strong we need to concentrate on what unites us, not on what divides us.

It is important to be able to be proud of what you are and where you come from. Our common heritage as South Africans should unite us. Our common origin as humans should unite us. Origin is a proudly South African business. What we have developed has been developed by South Africans. We are dependent on our client base who are entirely South African. We understand the challenges that need to be overcome by South African businesses, because we face them on a day to day basis ourselves. In order to be strong, we need to unite. We need to develop the courage to rely more on one another. Let’s work together so that the heritage we leave for future generations builds and improves on the heritage that was passed on to us.