In helping shape our identity, our heritage becomes part of what we are. Our expression of this identity shows others what we value; it highlights our values and priorities. Our heritage provides clues to our past and how our society has evolved. It helps us examine our history and traditions and enables us to develop an awareness about ourselves. It helps us understand and explain why we are the way we are. Heritage is a keystone of our culture that plays an important role in our politics, society, business, and world view. It informs, influences, and inspires public debate and policy both directly and indirectly. Post 94, South Africa emerged as a beacon of hope that it may be possible for people from different cultural, ethnic, language and religious backgrounds to live together. In this week’s edition of the view of the nation and at the back of heritage month, we discuss local understandings and articulations of coexistence in South Africa.  How successful has South Africa’s mode of conflict regulations been? How have the groups once engaged in a low-level war come to terms with living and working side by side? More importantly, how happy are South Africans in their situation? How do they rate their situation and their prospects for their own and their children’s future in the multi-cultural democracy of SA?

Diversity and Inclusion Specialist Julia Makhubela and President of the Pan African Psychology Union Dr Saths Cooper join Lerato Mbele for the conversation.