CAPE TOWN, Feb 17 — Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile has encouraged South Africans, especially those who were close to or were part of the country’s struggle for liberation from apartheid, to write more books about the political history of the country.

This would help preserve the country’s heritage by imparting the story of the political struggle to generations to come, he said here last Friday at the launch of a book entitled “The Future We Chose: Emerging Perspectives on The Centenary of the ANC (African National Congress)”.

Mashatile said the Arts and Culture Department would support book projects which could contribute to preserving the country’s arts and heritage. “The Department of Arts and Culture, amongst many of its responsibilities, encourages the writing of books, especially in indigenous languages, and the reading of books, particularly to tell the true story of who we are as South African people. I encourage us all to write books,” he said.

He added that there were books by people who were very critical about the country and that “we should write more about ourselves so that there is proper discourse out there”.

“All those who have got the energy to write, please let us get together. Let’s write more and more books so that we can impart good heritage to the young generation. We must be able to tell a good story of this great nation,” he said.

The book launched on Friday was edited by commentator and writer Busani Ngcaweni, who approached the ruling ANC leaders and stalwarts to contribute chapters on their perspectives of the liberation movement’s centenary celebrations and history.

With a lot of external and internal contradictions on the story of the liberation movement, the story explores the events and the narrative that defines South Africa’s oldest political organization.

Among the list of senior politicians who contributed a chapter in the 19-chapter book is Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, who also attended the book launch along with Minister in the Presidency and head of the National Planning Commission Trevor Manuel.

Source: SA NEWS