Pretoria - With only a few weeks left before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in New Zealand, Cabinet says the Springboks need the entire nation to stand behind them in their quest to defend the world title.
Cabinet has urged South Africans to unite behind the Boks, Cabinet spokesperson Jimmy Manyi told a post Cabinet media briefing on Thursday.
The recently launched Springbok Friday, an initiative encouraging South Africans to show support for the Boks by wearing the team's match jersey on Fridays, has been given minimal attention.
"Cabinet calls on all South Africans to 'Play your Part' by uniting behind the finally selected national rugby team, the Springboks, ahead of next month's Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand, and Team SA in the 2011 All Africa Games by supporting the magnificent Fridays campaign," said Manyi.
He added that the Sports Awards at Sun City last weekend had demonstrated the capacity of sport to unite South Africans and build a strong sense of cohesion.
Cabinet also called on South Africans to fully support Tourism Month and Heritage Day in September.
Tourism Month is celebrated in South Africa annually in September to mark the contribution that the industry makes to the country's economy, while Heritage Day celebrates the rich cultural heritage and diversity of South Africans.
This year, Tourism Month is being celebrated under the international theme, Tourism Linking Cultures, which celebrates tourism's role in breaking down barriers between cultures and fostering tolerance, respect and mutual understanding.
In this regard, Manyi said: "Cabinet calls on captains of the tourism industry to pursue cultural tourism in promoting intercultural dialogue and ensuring that local communities fully participate in and benefit from the development opportunities presented by tourism."
Manyi said government will use Heritage Day on 24 September to amplify communication on heritage under the theme, Celebrating the Heroes and Heroines of the Liberation Struggle in South Africa.
He called on all sectors to play their part in using the liberation heritage as a vehicle to foster social cohesion, nation building, economic development and inclusive citizenship.
