Hon Chair, this month we celebrate our heritage and it is usually a time of looking back and reflecting on our heritage. Heritage is often defined as what we inherit, what we value or what we want to pass on to future generations. In this sense we tend to refer to our tangible and intangible heritage, our cultural capital.
During Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich diversity of this cultural capital. I do believe that at this particular juncture where we are in our country today, it is perhaps more important and imperative to reflect on the values that we have today, which will be the heritage that we pass on to future generations. What is the heritage that they will reflect on, and will it be worth celebrating? This is a tremendous responsibility, as we are the authors of our own history and heritage.
When we talk about living out the values of a just and caring society, most people would agree that they wish to live in a just society. The question, however, is: What is meant by a just society? This question has been asked by numerous philosophers, leaders and academics, and their answers differ greatly, depending on their ideological context.
I would, however, propose the following. A just society should be seen as more than the mechanical application of the rules of justice. Inherent in this is the understanding that justice, and in this sense also fairness of access, must be actual, not just theoretical or something that lip service is paid to.
A caring society refers to a positive state of affairs where there is social justice and equality, free from oppressive forces; access to quality education, adequate health and social services; economic prosperity; adequate housing; a clean and safe environment; support for community structures; and the opportunity to engage in cultural and religious activities.
The aim for a just and caring society is one in which all people, with no exceptions, have the rights, freedom and capacity to access services and resources to enhance their wellbeing, and where the most disadvantaged and marginalised members of society are given extra support to ensure such access; or, stated in a different way, an open-opportunity society for all.
But let us examine some of the values of a just and caring society and reflect on where we are and to what extent we do, in fact, live out the values. The first value is that of respect, where the intrinsic worth of all individuals is recognised.
Every human being has a unique worth and all people are entitled to be treated with honour and respect. Respect is a cornerstone of justice and caring. Injustice and neglect can only flourish where respect for others is absent.
Where are we? What are we leaving as a heritage? Are we leaving behind as a heritage health workers prevented by force and violence to care for patients as seen in the recent strike; teachers preventing others by force to teach; and even worse, teachers preventing learners to learn and write exams?
What values of justness and caring do these learners take with them on their journey into the future? Perhaps the answer can already be seen in learners attacking other learners to prevent them from writing exams, as it is happening right now.
Another value of a just and caring society is opportunities for participation. This is a society where people are given choices about how they live, where they have the means to make those choices and where people are not only beneficiaries, but active participants. This is where they have the right and freedom and capacity to take responsibility for their own destiny.
What do we have in our country today? Do people have the ability to make their own choices and have access to opportunities or do they have to belong to the ruling party to get access to opportunities? In other words, the value that is fostered is one of who you know, what your party- political and family connections are and not what your merit is.
A just and caring society is one where everyone has equal access to information. But what kind of just society are we creating when this government proposes a Bill, aimed at keeping information from members of society; when media tribunals are proposed? What are the values that we leave as heritage? Is it values of silence and secrecy?
If we reflect on what our society looks like today, it is not the embodiment of a just and caring society. The problem is that we treat values as something out there, something that we can create and establish commissions and movements for. And we believe a few projects and workshops will make us a society that lives out these values. But the reality is that values have to be part of our daily lives at every level and have to be the guiding force in all our activities.
Every act that defies the values of justness and caring, every contradiction in what is said and what is practiced, erodes the heritage that we leave to future generations.