Proteas men’s cricketers have shared what Heritage Day and month (September) means to them.
Temba Bavuma, Keshav Maharaj, Dwaine Pretorius and Reeza Hendricks come from different backgrounds but found common ground in their celebrations as representatives of the country in sport.
“Our heritage is more than just a word, it’s our identity,” said batsman Bavuma.
“It’s looking in the mirror and recognising who we are because we know where and from who we come from. I’m a proud Xhosa man and a proud South African – honoured to be part of a nation of so many races, cultures, religions and creeds.”
He added that Heritage Day should remind everyone that they are not alone and part of a community and by virtue of that, we as a nation are united.
Spinner Maharaj said, “As South Africans, I think it’s important to embrace our heritage and remember the struggles of our past and how they paved the way forward towards our multi-cultural, Rainbow Nation. I think it’s important for the youth to pick up where they left off and continue to build on the foundation that has been set by our forefathers.”
He added that we should all take ownership of our country and turn it into a better place.
“We know about each other’s past struggles, but do we take the time to chat and get to know each other and embrace each other’s communities, religions and cultures?” Maharaj asked.
“It’s important to understand this and pay tribute to one another’s forefathers. I see South Africa as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow because we live in an amazing country.”
All-rounder Pretorius agreed that he was proud to live in such a beautiful and colourful country.
“South Africa is made up of so many cultures and communities and it’s not enough to just put aside one month in a year to celebrate our roots, people and what we all bring to Madiba’s Rainbow Nation,” he said.
“We have so much to love about our country and its people. We sing, we dance, we braai, we fish, we’re artists, we’re resilient and we are respected around the world for our kindness, compassion and capacity to forgive and unite.”
Pretorius said we should pass these values and traditions down to every generation to come.
Batsman Hendricks described South Africa as one of the most beautiful countries in the world, made unique by the diversity of its people
“For me, it would be great to see every citizen continuing to embrace and appreciate different races and cultures to grow and even better South Africa,” he said.
