To the CEO of Neftaly, Neftaly Malatjie, Royal Committee Chairperson Clifford Legodi, Neftaly Royal Chiefs and Human Capital
Kgotso ebe le lena
Storytelling By Linah Ralepelle Neftaly Development Manager
Greeting ladies and Gentlemen My name is Linah Ralepelle Neftaly Development Manager
Storytelling: Heritage Day and Culture
Long ago, before the noise of cities and the rush of machines, our people gathered around the fire under the stars. The fire was more than warmth—it was memory, a place where stories lived.
Grandmothers and grandfathers became libraries. Their voices carried history: tales of warriors who defended the land, of women who held families together with courage, and of children who grew into leaders through the wisdom of their clans. Every story was a seed planted in the hearts of the young, reminding them of who they were.
On Heritage Day, we return to that fire. We remember that culture is not only beadwork, dances, or food—it is the heartbeat of our people. It is the way we greet each other with respect, the way we sing together at weddings and funerals, the way we share a meal even when food is little. Culture teaches us to say, “I am, because we are.”
Our diversity is our wealth. Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Tswana, Sotho, Venda, Tsonga, Ndebele, Swati, Khoisan, Afrikaans, English—all languages are threads in the great cloth of South Africa. Each pattern is different, but together they make a blanket strong enough to cover us all.
Heritage is also about tomorrow. It is not only about looking back but about carrying forward the wisdom of the past. When we wear traditional clothes, cook the meals of our ancestors, or sing old songs, we are telling the world: We know where we come from, and we walk proudly into the future.
So today, let us sit once more at the fire—whether it is a braai flame, a church gathering, or a drumbeat at a community hall. Let us tell stories, laugh, and teach the young ones. Let us celebrate our culture not as something to be hidden in museums, but as something living, breathing, and walking with us every day.
Because
Heritage Day is a reminder that our stories are our power, our culture is our compass, and our unity is our strength.
I thank you
My Message Shall End Here
Daniel Makano | Neftaly Development Specialist | Neftaly
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