Chairperson, we, including the hon members around me, the House, this Parliament, in fact all South Africans today, are the product of the rich and varied heritage of this our land, South Africa.
Heritage Day marks the day on which South Africans come together and celebrate what it means to be truly South African, what it means to be united, and what it means to have a common vision arising from a rich and varied cultural diversity, which truly means no boundaries, as it is a celebration of our unity in diversity.
Therefore, it behoves us to honour and, at the same time, showcase to the rest of the world that we are one human race, sharing a common evolutionary vision of a harmonious and unified tomorrow.
The IFP commends both our leaders, His Excellency Prince Buthelezi and our Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini, for the manner in which they both emphasise Zulu cultural heritage in the improvement and upliftment of the Zulu people. Two examples in that regard are the umkhosi womhlanga or reed dance and the male circumcision rite.
The reed dance, which encourages the tradition of remaining a virgin until marriage, and the male circumcision rite, which is now performed by qualified medical practitioners, directly address the scourge and spread of HIV and Aids.
In conclusion, and in the commemoration and spirit of King Shaka, the King of amaZulu - who himself played a most resolute and, in fact, destiny- defining role in the unification of the entire Zulu nation - the IFP would like to see the entire nation of South Africa come together on Heritage Day, united under one common cause, namely a better and brighter tomorrow for all South Africans. I thank you. [Applause.]