The national summit took resolutions that recommitted South Africa to strive for freedom, respect for human rights and the promotion of access to opportunities for all. It committed the people of South Africa to renew their commitment to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.
The community feedback conversations is intended to ensure that the outcomes of the National Summit are not only part of government programmes, but are embraced, supported, and 'made alive' by all communities in South Africa.
The programme provided opportunity for community representatives to learn from community based initiatives that are promoting social inclusion.
Mossel Bay Executive Mayor, Alderlady Marie Ferreira, welcomed the delegates, saying, "All of us know that social cohesion is not a soft issue. It is about decisions we make daily that, in turn, have a knock-on effect throughout society.
ur responses to the various challenges we face are largely defined by the level of social cohesion our country enjoys. It is important that we understand social cohesion as something that we can all practice in our daily lives – it's about the large and small decisions we make.
We require a notion of social cohesion that allows us to celebrate our differences without fetishising them and without hiding behind these differences so that we do not have to relate at all to those who are not exactly like us."
The Senior Manager of Special and Strategic Projects at the Independent Development Trust, Tshilidzi Netshilaphala, said South Africa is a country split by economic inequality and extreme poverty and that the lack of job creation is a major concern. He highlighted a key challenge that identified young people as becoming "...the single greatest risk to social stability as they are likely to rebel if left with no alternative". The alternative, he said, was a socially inclusive society based on shared values with respect for human dignity and equality, among others. He urged the audience to question: "What role can I play at my local level?"
In a very informative presentation, the Director Corporate Services, Edward Jantjies, spoke of the Mossel Bay Municipality's efforts to promote social cohesion through several programmes. He alluded to their motto: "Together we will grow the economy" that requires his department to focus on various levels of business and social development. He highlighted the municipality's soup kitchens programme, run by soup kitchen committees that function to prevent food scarcity. He mentioned their programmes for poverty alleviation and the success of the Gender Forum and Social Development Forum. He concluded that the success of the various programmes rely on cooperation and inclusivity.
Pieter Viljoen of Mossel Bay Heritage Society urged the audience to take note of the inclusive Dias Festival that subscribes to the catch phrase: "Where cultures meet".
Acting Head of Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Hannetjie du Preez, hosted the community discussion on social cohesion. With her, from left, were director Edward Jantjies of the Mossel Bay Municipality, Tshilidzi Netshilaphala of the Independent Development Trust, Mossel Bay Executive Mayor, Alderlady Marie Ferreira, Rene de Kock of the Great Brak River Museum and Daniel Maritz, deputy mayor of George.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: NICKEY LE ROUX, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER JOURNALIST
