{
  "id": 10434485,
  "title": "Our constitutional values are part of our common heritage",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/our-constitutional-values-are-part-of-our-common-heritage",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T11:56:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-09-28-our-constitutional-values-are-part-of-our-common-heritage/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, emphasized that the constitutional values of nonracialism, nonsexism, equality, democracy, and human dignity constitute our shared heritage. These principles are as integral to our identity as the cultures we practice and the languages we speak. On Heritage Day, Ramaphosa observed the celebration of South Africa's diverse languages, traditions, and cultures, highlighting the nation's unity in recognizing and honoring the heritage of others. However, he stressed that our heritage is not merely what we celebrate; it is also what we defend. Ramaphosa lamented that issues such as violence against women and xenophobia tarnish our national conscience and should not define us. He affirmed that democratic South Africa remains committed to promoting the ideals of African unity and integration, while maintaining strict law enforcement on migration. The President emphasized that racism and the racial division of apartheid will never define the nation. He reiterated the country's commitment to correcting past injustices without equating measures of redress with systematic racial oppression during apartheid. Ramaphosa called for vigilance against those who aim to divide the nation and urged all citizens to protect the unity of South Africa. The Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, but with this freedom comes responsibility. He warned against inflammatory language that could fuel social tensions and reopen historical wounds. Ramaphosa urged South Africans to uphold the values that bind them together, regardless of race, gender, language, culture, or geography. Guided by these shared constitutional values, he encouraged the nation to work collectively to overcome common challenges, affirming the choice made in 1994 to build a united South Africa.",
  "summary": "Our constitutional order gives expression to the values of nonracialism, nonsexism, equality, democracy and human dignity. These are as much our heritage as the cultures we practise and the languages we speak, the traditions we observe and the cultures we celebrate.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}