National Day Of Reconciliation Is All About Healing Historical Wounds: President Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the National Day of Reconciliation is focused on healing historical wounds and creating better futures.

During the National Day of Reconciliation event at the Vredendal North Sports Ground in the Western Cape on Monday, Ramaphosa explained that Reconciliation Day is about promoting reconciliation, justice, and nation-building, as well as encouraging social unity and healing.

"We cannot heal these historical wounds by forgetting our past. There are things that should be done to heal the wounds of the past," he said, SA News reported.

He added, "For others, it was a painful reminder of conquest and dispossession. Since the advent of democracy, we have sought to do away with symbols that are divisive. We chose to mark the 16th of December as a Day of Reconciliation. A celebration of our unity in diversity."

The president also paid tribute to Vredendal, highlighting that the area, known as the Valley of Peace, is blessed with fertile land and is a farming region. Many of its residents work on farms.

He emphasized the importance of agriculture and land reform in reducing unemployment and growing the economy. He acknowledged the harsh history under apartheid, where farmworkers were severely exploited and white commercial farms were built on the labor of slaves and Indigenous people.

Since democracy was established 30 years ago, the government has passed laws to improve the rights of farmworkers, including one that prevents families from being evicted from farms without notice.

However, the president pointed out that farmworkers and tenants are still being evicted without alternative housing in some areas. He urged employers to treat people with respect and ensure they have proper housing.

He emphasized that everyone must ensure the law is followed and the rights of all people are protected. He noted that the working conditions of farmworkers are regulated by the Labour Relations Act.

The 2024 National Day of Reconciliation theme is "Healing Historical Wounds and Forging New Futures." Reconciliation Day, observed every year on Dec. 16, became a public holiday in South Africa in 1995 after the end of apartheid. Its goal is to promote reconciliation and national unity.

Vredendal resident Ntsika Madela shared that it is time to focus on healing and building a better South Africa. He reflected on the painful past of oppression and said that, with democracy now in place, it's important to forgive those who once oppressed them.