IF ALL OF THE WORLD´S CULTURAL HERITAGE (SPORTS, MUSIC, FASHION,

ARCHITECTURE, LITERATURE, PAINTING, ETC..) WAS CONTAINED IN A TIME

CAPSULE, WHAT WOULD YOU INCLUDE TO DEMONSTRATE THE LEGACY OF YOUR

COUNTRY?

BY MELISSA ARJOONAN

“I BELIEVE THAT SOUTH AFRICA IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE ON EARTH.

ADMITTEDLY, I AM BIASED BUT WHEN YOU COMBINE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF

SUNNY SOUTH AFRICA WITH THE FRIENDLINESS AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF OUR PEOPLE, AND THE FACT THAT THE REGION IS A HAVEN FOR AFRICA'S MOST SPLENDID WILDLIFE, THEN I THINK THAT WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A TRULY

WONDERFUL LAND.” – NELSON MANDELA

IN MY MIND, THE UNION BUILDINGS IN PRETORIA ARE MORE THAN JUST THE OFFICIAL SEAT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT OR A DEMOCRATIC LANDMARK; IT IS THE PLACE WHERE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERSONALLY BID FAREWELL TO AND SAY THANK YOU TO NELSON MANDELA IN DECEMBER 2013. IT IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT WILL ALWAYS REMAIN CLOSE TO MY HEART.

Nelson Mandela will always be the face of South Africa. The traveler passing through the country will see Mandela's face almost everywhere he looks. Truly, the man is omnipresent.”

– Henry Rollins

THE AFRICAN RHINO – SOUTH AFRICA IS HOME TO MOST OF AFRICA’S RHINOS. SINCE 2008, RHINO POACHING IN THE COUNTRY HAS SOARED, RESULTING IN OVER 600 DEAD RHINOS IN 2012 ALONE. UNFORTUNATELY, DESPITE NUMEROUS EFFORTS BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS TO FIGHT RHINO POACHING, THERE IS NO CLEAR INDICATION THAT THE CRISIS IS MODERATING.

“Only when the last of the animals horns, tusks, skin and bones are sold, will Mankind realise that money can never buy back our wildlife.” – Wild at Heart

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF SOUTH AFRICA IS UNIQUE AS IT INCORPORATES A STRUGGLE SONG OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS DURING THE APARTHEID ERA (“NKOSI SIKELEL' IAFRIKA”) AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF THE COUNTRY DURING APARTHEID (“DIE STEM”). THE FACT THAT EVEN THE APARTHEID NATIONAL ANTHEM WAS INCLUDED IN POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA WAS SYMBOLIC TO CITIZENS AS IT DISPLAYED THAT THE NEW SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT WAS ALL-INCLUSIVE.

“South Africa never leaves one indifferent. Its history, its population, its landscapes and cultures – all speak to the visitor, to the student, to the friend of Africa.”

– Tariq Ramadan

MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM – THE STADIUM IS ARGUABLY THE BEST IN SOUTH AFRICA AND DISPLAYS EXCEPTIONAL ARCHITECTURE. IT IS ALSO SYMBOLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA HOSTING THE GREATEST SPORTING EVENT IN 2010: THE SOCCER WORLD CUP; A SHEER PRIVILEGE AND INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR A COUNTRY THAT WAS ONLY SIXTEEN YEARS INTO DEMOCRACY. FIFA IS COMMONLY CRITICISED FOR ENCOURAGING WASTED EXPENDITURE IN HOST COUNTRIES IN WHICH STADIA ARE BUILT BUT NEVER FULLY UTILISED AFTER THE EVENT ITSELF. THE MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM PROVIDES A NOTEWORTHY EXAMPLE OF A STADIUM THAT IS GENERATING SIGNIFICANT REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF DURBAN AS IT IS BEING UTILISED AS A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION BY PROVIDING A HOST OF ACTIVITIES AND HAS BECOME A SIGNIFICANT LANDMARK IN THE CITY.

“We who have walked with the giants know that Moses Mbheki Mabhida belongs in that company too.”

– Oliver Tambo

THE BOOK “LONG WALK TO FREEDOM” – THIS IS THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE EX-PRESIDENT, MR. NELSON MANDELA, AND IS THE STORY OF THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM BY THE GREATEST MAN WHO HAS GRACED OUR LAND. IT IS NOT ONLY A MUST-READ FOR ALL SOUTH AFRICANS, BUT FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AS IT DEMONSTRATES THE GREATEST LIFE LESSONS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL COULD HOPE TO EMULATE.

“It's a blessing that South Africa has a man like Nelson Mandela.” – Desmond Tutu

THE UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU NATAL (UKZN) – THIS IS THE INSTITUTION AT WHICH I COMPLETED BOTH MY UNDERGRADUATE AS WELL AS MY POST-GRADUATE DEGREES. IT WAS FORMED ON 01 JANUARY 2004 AFTER THE MERGER BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF NATAL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DURBAN-WESTVILLE. THE UNIVERSITY BOASTS FIVE CAMPUSES IN THE PROVINCE OF KWAZULU NATAL AND WAS VERY PROMINENT DURING THE FIGHT AGAINST APARTHEID. THE CAMPUS THAT I ATTENDED, PIETERMARITZBURG, CONTAINS THE UNIVERSITY'S OLDEST STRUCTURE (OLD MAIN BUILDING – PICTURED ON THE TOP LEFT), WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1912. THE UNIVERSITY IS RICH WITH SOUTH AFRICAN HISTORY AND ITS FOUNDING INSTITUTIONS INCLUDE (AMONG OTHERS) THE FOLLOWING ALUMNI: STEVE BIKO, ALAN PATON, MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI, NKOSAZANA DLAMINI-ZUMA, AND MAMPHELA RAMPHELE.

“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” – George Washington Carver

PHOTOGRAPH OF SOWETO UPRISING – JUNE 16TH IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN SOUTH AFRICA CALLED YOUTH DAY IN MEMORY OF THE STUDENTS WHO TOOK PART IN A SERIES OF PROTESTS IN SOWETO IN 1976. THE STUDENTS PROTESTED IN RESPONSE TO THE INTRODUCTION OF AFRIKAANS AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN LOCAL SCHOOLS. THIS PARTICULAR PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS THE DEAD BODY OF HECTOR PIETERSON AND CAUSED INTERNATIONAL OUTRAGE AND CONDEMNATION OF THE THEN APARTHEID GOVERNMENT AND PLACED INCREASED PRESSURE FOR DEMOCRACY IN THE COUNTRY.

“South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white.” – Thabo Mbeki

THE BUNNY CHOW –THIS DISH CONSISTS OF HOLLOWED OUT BREAD FILLED WITH CURRY AND HAS EARNED ITSELF A WELL-DESERVED SPOT ON THE LIST OF AUTHENTIC SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD.

BILTONG – ANOTHER AUTHENTIC SOUTH AFRICAN DISH THAT REFERS TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRIED MEAT AND IS VERY MUCH ENTRENCHED IN SOUTH AFRICAN CULTURE.

“There is no sincerer love than the love of food..” – George Bernard Shaw

THE 1995 RUGBY WORLD CUP – THIS WAS THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENT THAT SOUTH AFRICA HOSTED (AND WENT ON TO WIN) UNDER DEMOCRATIC RULE. THE GREATER SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS EVENT IS THE STORY OF THE EVENTS PRECEDING THE WORLD CUP WHEN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA APPROACHED SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY CAPTAIN, FRANCOIS PIENAAR; TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE LOCAL RUGBY TEAM WON THE WORLD CUP AS MANDELA HAD THE INGENIOUS IDEA OF USING SPORT AS A WAY TO UNITE A COUNTRY THAT WAS SO DESPERATELY IN NEED OF UNITY.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

– Nelson Mandela

THE MARIKANA MASSACRE – THE MARIKANA INCIDENT OF 2012 BEGAN AS A LABOUR STRIKE AGAINST A PLATINUM MINE OWNED BY LONMIN IN RUSTENBURG. IT ENDED AS A BLOODY MASSACRE AS A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN STRIKING MINERS AND POLICE ENSUED, RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF 44 PEOPLE. THE MARIKANA MASSACRE IS SYMBOLIC OF THE ONGOING SEGREGATION IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE PLIGHT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION. IT IS AN INCIDENT THAT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED, NOT JUST IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED ON, BUT ALSO FOR THE LIGHT IT HAS SHED ON THE GROWING PAINS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN LABOUR MARKET. THESE HEROIC PEOPLE HAVE OPENED THE WAY FOR FAIRER PAY FOR ALL MINERS, AS WELL AS OTHER LABOURERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

“Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply... For fear will rob him of all if he gives too much.”

– Alan Paton

THE ORIGIN OF SOUTH AFRICAN WINE DATES BACK TO OVER 350 YEARS AGO, WITH THE COUNTRY BOASTING SOME OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING VINEYARDS IN THE WORLD. SOUTH AFRICA'S WINE HAS BECOME WORLD-RENOWNED SINCE THE ABOLITION OF APARTHEID, AND SATISFIES THE MOST DISCERNING OF PALATES.

“Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.” – Benjamin Franklin

STATUE OF MAHATMA GANDHI – AFTER BEING THROWN OFF A TRAIN IN 1893 IN PIETERMARITZBURG, MAHATMA GANDHI MADE THE DECISION TO STAY ON IN SOUTH AFRICA AND FIGHT THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE GROWING INDIAN POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY. A HUNDRED YEARS LATER, A BRONZE STATUE OF GANDHI WAS ERECTED ON CHURCH STREET IN PIETERMARITZBURG. AS A SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN FROM THE SURROUNDS OF PIETERMARITZBURG, THIS STATUE HOLDS GREAT MEANING FOR ME AND IS SYMBOLIC OF MY CULTURAL HERITAGE IN SOUTH AFRICA IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. SOUTH AFRICA BOASTS ONE OF THE LARGEST INDIAN POPULATIONS OUTSIDE OF INDIA ITSELF AND THE OPPORTUNITIES INDIAN PEOPLE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SELFLESS DEEDS OF MAHATMA GANDHI.

“If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.”

– Nelson Mandela

ROBBEN ISLAND IS A SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL HERITAGE SITE AND A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. THE GREATEST SIGNIFICANCE OF ROBBEN ISLAND FOR SOUTH AFRICANS IS THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE GREATEST POLITICAL ACTIVISTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY WERE IMPRISONED HERE DURING APARTHEID. NELSON MANDELA SPENT EIGHTEEN OF HIS TWENTY SEVEN YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT AT ROBBEN ISLAND.

If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner..”

– Nelson Mandela

TABLE MOUNTAIN – THIS NATURAL BEAUTY NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION, THE PICTURES WILL SPEAK A THOUSAND WORDS.

“To love beauty is to see light.” – Victor Hugo