Cultures

Respect & Cultural Diversity

South Africa is not only known for its ‘braai-vleis, sunny skies and rugby’ but for the historic heritage. With just over 45 million citizens of which nearly 31 million are African, 5 million White, 3 million Coloured and one million Indian. We certainly are a rainbow nation.

We live in a country where there are many cultures and different religions. In all nine provinces one would find the diverse categories of all South Africans. In the past decade more students have enrolled at tertiary institutions. One would find many students who come from various backgrounds. Those ones have their own respective cultures.

After speaking to a few students at CPUT, many had different opinions regarding the importance of knowing and respecting other cultures. Some students feel that one should just respect the culture of the other. ‘’ We feel that everyone should make effort to learn other cultures. For now we get to tolerate one another,’’ said Tawanda Maurice, 21, second year biomedical student. Maurice has been at the institution for almost two years. He doesn’t want culture education part of the curriculum, however the sport and recreation department should look at it.

Some pupils felt that there was a gap in the education system regarding the different cultures in South Africa. ‘’ There are many people who judge you when they see you are from Zimbabwe. I come from the Shona religion, ‘’ said  Tinashe Jasper, 23, second year building student.

Many students at the university agreed that everyone should learn a culture other than their own.

There are some students who have encountered bad experiences. In some instances cultures are being made fun of. ‘’ In our class anything goes. They don’t care if you Islam, Christian or from another culture, ‘’ said Mariska Dearham, 21, third year accountancy student.

In the Western Cape the City of Cape Town celebrates annually an event entirely dedicated to the different cultures in the city. On that day many display their believes through song, dance and reading of poems. This event normally takes place in the month where the South Africans celebrate their heritage. This has brought the citizens together and has become an event many diarise.  

This festival has been born out of political and racial division. It will have its 12^th celebration in 2011. It has united the citizens of South Africa.