Johannesburg - The Social Cohesion Summit has been declared a success by Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile.
Addressing delegates at the conclusion of the summit at the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Kliptown, Soweto on Thursday, Mashatile noted that those at the summit had reaffirmed their commitment to the building of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society.
"We have committed ourselves to work together to building a caring and proud society," the minister said.
There was also acknowledgement from delegates that social cohesion had to take place in the context of improving the quality of life of all South Africans, he added. For this reason, issues related to poverty, unemployment, inequality, among others, had to be addressed.
The minister also reiterated the need for partnerships when it came to social cohesion.
"In building a caring and proud society, we will require partnerships with all stakeholders - Parliament, government at all levels - national, provincial and local - the judiciary, labour, non-governmental organisations, civil society and all political parties across the board. It is only if we work in such partnerships that we will succeed," he said.
Mashatile highlighted the need to mainstream the issues of social cohesion in all programmes and for continued engagement in various forms, including at provincial level.
"...Maybe in 2014, that is going to be a very important milestone because as we finish 20 years of democracy, I think we should convene a summit of this nature just to look at how we have progressed as we celebrate 20 years," he suggested.
Engagement and action needed to go hand in hand, Mashatile stressed.
The summit's declaration, together with a programme of action that emerges from it, will be presented to President Jacob Zuma by the minister and other delegates who had attended the summit.
It was symbolic that the Social Cohesion Summit took place in Kliptown, where the Freedom Charter was adopted by the Congress of the People in 1955, the minister said, adding that delegates were committed to building on the foundation laid by that generation.
Earlier in the day, delegates broke away into commissions to address issues such as economic equalities; spatial divisions; social interaction, cooperation and solidarity; prejudice and discrimination; and national identity and unity.
