President Cyril Ramaphosa says violence against women cannot be allowed to become part of South Africa’s inheritance to future generations.
Addressing the 2026 National Heritage Day celebrations at Bongolethu Sports Stadium in Oudtshoorn on Thursday, Ramaphosa described the abuse, rape and killing of women as a “national shame”.
“The abuse, rape and killing of women is not our heritage,” Ramaphosa said.
“There is no culture worthy of the name that diminishes the dignity of women.”
Ramaphosa’s remarks come amid heightened concern over the killings of women in and around Ekurhuleni.
He said he would address the nation in the coming days on measures government is taking to tackle gender-based violence and provide an update on the investigation into the killings.
“In a few days, I will address the nation on the steps government is taking to confront gender-based violence, and to update South Africans on the investigation into the killings of women in and around Ekurhuleni,” he said.
Ramaphosa said South Africa’s freedom was still experienced unequally, pointing to poverty, crime, inadequate basic services, unequal access to education and opportunities, and the safety of women.
He said strengthening the ties that bind South Africans requires government and society to address these inequalities.
‘Our Constitution is our heritage’
Ramaphosa said South Africa’s Constitution should be regarded as part of the country’s living heritage, alongside its languages, cultures, traditions and indigenous knowledge.
“Our Constitution is our heritage. It is the tie that binds us together,” he said.
He said South Africa’s diversity should not be viewed as a reason for division, but as an opportunity for citizens to learn from one another.
The President also reflected on the country’s history of dispossession, slavery, colonialism, apartheid and forced removals, while highlighting the resistance and solidarity that eventually led to democracy in 1994.
He said South Africans had chosen reconciliation, non-racialism, equality before the law and human dignity.
Calls for unity amid national challenges
Ramaphosa identified unemployment, gender-based violence, corruption, and alcohol and drug abuse as some of the country’s common challenges.
He called on South Africans to work together to address these problems.
“Our common cause today is bringing about the conditions in which every South African can truly live the freedom that was promised them in 1994,” he said.
Ramaphosa also pointed to what he described as progress since 1994, including expanded access to education, healthcare, social protection, housing, basic services and economic opportunities.
He said government would continue working to protect national unity against forces seeking to divide South Africans.
Under the National Dialogue process, Ramaphosa said, the country should work towards writing the next chapter of South Africa’s story and developing a new vision for the country.
‘470 days without load shedding’
The President also highlighted the country’s electricity supply, saying South Africa had now gone 470 days without load shedding.
He said the knowledge and capabilities inherited from previous generations were helping the country confront current challenges, including youth unemployment and economic inequality.
Ramaphosa also paid tribute to the Khoi and San communities and the custodians of South Africa’s living heritage, including traditional practitioners, storytellers, musicians, healers, craftspeople and knowledge holders.
He said their knowledge must be recorded, taught, practised and passed on to future generations.
“Because a heritage that is not passed from one generation to another eventually ceases to be a living heritage,” he said.
The 2026 National Heritage Day theme is “Celebrating Our Living Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us.”
Ramaphosa ended his address with a call for South Africans to embrace unity, ubuntu and human dignity.
“Let us choose unity. Let us choose ubuntu. Let us choose the pursuit of human dignity. Let us choose this, our country, the Republic of South Africa,” he said.
