BuaNews (Tshwane)
Bathandwa Mbola
27 August 2008
Pretoria — The National Heritage Council (NHC) will on Thursday launch a campaign aimed at reviving and integrating the African philosophy of Ubuntu in schools and prisons.
NHC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sonwabile Mancotywa said the campaign, which will be integrated into schools and prisons as learning modules, was important in articulating what Ubuntu meant.
It will also promote, Ubuntu which is an African saying meaning humanity, as an important value system so it could define the identity of South Africa.
Citing the recent attacks on people from other countries as a symptom of a society that does not live by the philosophy of Ubuntu, Ms Mancotywa said the people of South Africa needed to rekindle humanity.
"Ubuntu needs to become synonymous with being South African and building a united South Africa. It is a strategic resource that South Africans have barely consciously utilised."
The use of the philosophy of Ubuntu was introduced by President Thabo Mbeki when he made a public call on Heritage Day in 2005 for South Africans to revive the African values of Ubuntu to assist in nation building and create a South African identity.
Many South Africans have been brought up to uphold the values based on this old African adage.
"Ubuntu drives community members to act in solidarity with the weak and the poor and help members of these communities to behave in particular ways for the common good," Mr Mbeki said at the time.
For the past two years, the NHC has held annual gatherings called 'Ubuntu Imbizo' in different provinces to involve people from all spheres to speak-out on simplifying the understanding of Ubuntu and how it can be revived.
This year, the Ubuntu Imbizo will be held at the Lesley Manyathela Stadium near the Beitbridge border post in September.
"The imbizo will become an interaction with the people of especially Musina, to find ways of practicing the values of Ubuntu in their daily encounter with foreigners as well as other South Africans," said the NHC.
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