President Cyril Ramaphosa says that reconciliation does not mean forgetting the country’s painful past. He called for the advancement of justice in fostering healing.
For much of our history, this day – the 16th of December – stood as a symbol of the wounds of our history. For some it was a celebration of victory.“Reconciliation Day is about advancing reconciliation, it’s also about advancing justice, and nation building. It promotes social cohesion, as well as healing. The past may be behind us, but we are left with the wounds that were inflicted in the past. So, as we forge ahead, we know that we have deep scars, as a reminder of our painful experiences.
President Ramaphosa also looked back on what the country has overcome to be on its current path to reconciliation. “There are things that we should do, that will enhance the healing process, but we must also learn from our past. We have come a long way as a country of diverse cultures, as a country of different languages, of different beliefs, and also different traditions,” he adds.
I hereby announce that we will hold a National Dialoguenext year to enable a conversation among citizens onshaping our country’s future developmental path.