Celebrating Heritage Day in style in Reiger Park

In celebration of National Heritage Day, hundreds of people gathered in the Reiger Park Civic Centre community hall on Friday night to celebrate South Africa’s diverse heritage, beliefs and cultures.

September 28, 2017

Fanie Mthupha 1 minute read

The event started to hot up when this Ramaphosa based cultural group called Khotla Le Modumo Kopano Ke Matla, took the platform and showed off their BaSotho dance moves.

This year’s Heritage Day celebrations were held under the theme, ‘The Year of OR Tambo: Celebrating Our Liberation Heritage’.

The colourful celebration, organised by the Reiger Park SAPS and sponsored by Old Mutual, was led by the Ekurhuleni Central SAPS Cluster’s deputy cluster commander, Brigadier Thabo Mphuthi.

It brought together hundreds of Reiger Park community members, including children from local schools, members of the SAPS, CPF, Youth Desk and Women’s Desk, churches as well as representatives of local businesses.

Dressed in Zulu traditional attire, Const Jan Mokwana was the master of ceremonies during the colourful event. He is seen taking a sip of mageu from an African traditional earthenware pot.

Attendees showcased their cultural clothing, traditions while also learning more about one another’s cultures.

Several different cultural dance groups showed off their dance moves with the rest of the crowd ululating and dancing along.

A group of Drommedaris Primary School pupils who are actively involved in drug education campaigns, also attended the Heritage Day celebration. With the children are (from left): Old Mutual’s Kgomotso Baloyi, Ekurhuleni Central SAPS Cluster’s deputy cluster commander Brigadier Thabo Mphuthi, Reiger Park SAPS station commander Col Elsie Mashinini and Reiger Park CPF chairperson Pastor Francis Coetzee.

Speakers at the celebration urged all South Africans to take pride in the country’s multitude of cultures, languages and religions. They asked citizens to play an active role in promoting and preserving them.

Mphuthi and the Reiger Park SAPS station commander Col Elsie Mashinini delivered the keynote address for the day.

Although their speeches focused heavily on heritage, they also used the event to speak about the crime situation in the area and encouraged attendees and the youth in particular, to stand together against substance abuse. Mashinini said events of this kind nurture the bond that has been formed between the police and the public.

Showcasing their attire during the Heritage Day celebrations are (from left): Tsonga Rebecca Hlongwane dressed in xibelani, Mlindos Ziqubu in traditional Sotho attire, Const Lufuno Mudzuli in a traditional shirt and hat, Const Jan Mokwana dressed up in full Zulu traditional regalia, Constance Matsimbi dressed in xibelani.

Lucky attendees received hampers and trophies – sponsored by Old Mutual – for winning an award in different categories such as ‘best-dressed’ and ‘best dancer’.

Attendees also enjoyed traditional food from various nations. Reiger Park SAPS’ Const Daniel Dikgale sponsored trophies for the winners.

Heritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa and citizens are urged to use the day to celebrate South Africa’s diverse cultures and heritage.

Over the weekend, many people were seen at their places of work and in the streets of Boksburg dressed in their different cultural clothing. Others organised outdoor braais to celebrate Heritage Day. -@FanieFLK