Page 44 - Silver Lakes Issue 8_2022

LIFESTYLE

CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE

By Josh Truter

Heritage Day, coming up on 24 September, is a day that celebrates South Africa’s roots, along with the rich,
vibrant and diverse cultures that make up our Rainbow Nation.

o matter where in the world one DID YOU KNOW? • Mahatma Gandhi formed the Natal
goes, the locals in each country will • During the Second Anglo Boer War Indian Ambulance Corps which,
Nbe able to recount tales of suffering (October 1899 to May 1902), the Boers consisted of 300 Indian settlers and
and conflict. There will also be stories of were supported by volunteer soldiers 800 indentured Indian labourers.
people who have overcome impossible odds from the Netherlands, France, Germany, They supported the British and
to become beacons of hope and inspiration to Belgium, Scandinavia, Finland, Poland, served as stretcher bearers and
the masses. Hungary, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the US assisted with transporting the
(Irish and Dutch Americans), Russia, and wounded soldiers who needed
Our democracy in the bigger scheme of world Australia. The British were supported medical care. When Gandhi came
events is still young and there are plenty of by soldiers from Canada, Australia, New to South Africa, his intention was
growing pains – and most likely there will Zealand, India, individual mercenaries to stay for just one year. He ended
be many more. We are lucky, though, that from the US, and Italy. Both sides used up staying for 21 years before
we are able to applaud the achievements local tribesmen to assist with tending the heading back to India.
of numerous South Africans who have horses, setting up the camps, carrying
risen up and tackled some of our trials and ammunition, and sometimes even Of course, celebrating our South
tribulations head-on. engaging in the fighting. African heritage goes beyond one
war or even a few individuals – it’s
We have also had the benefit of support from • Winston Churchill was captured just about all the people who make up
many countries and communities around the two weeks after his arrival as war our Rainbow Nation – although, as
world and, in celebrating our South African correspondent for British newspaper The we can see, many of us can claim links
heritage, perhaps this is a good opportunity Morning Post. He managed to escape and to a variety of the nationalities that
to take a look at some of the nationalities made his way to Mozambique. He then participated way back when.
that played a significant role in one of signed up as a lieutenant in the British
those defining ‘moments’ at the turn of last army and was witness to the occupation One of the best ways to appreciate
century. of Pretoria by the British Forces. the melting pot of cultures in South
Africa is by exploring the different
types of cuisine on offer. Think of
Portuguese peri-peri chicken, Italian
pizza, German sausages, an English
breakfast, Dutch milk tart, Indian
curry, Greek meze, French croissants,
Cape Malay bobotie, along with
the pap, samp and beans, morogo,
walkie talkies, amasi and sorghum
beer enjoyed by our local tribes,
and you can see that our influences
are many and widespread. Add to
these biltong, droëwors, boerewors,
potjiekos, bunny chows, chakalaka,
smoorsnoek and bokkoms, followed
by koeksusters and rooibos tea – or
Springbok shooters, Amarula Dom
Pedro, local craft beers and possibly
even Mampoer, and you know you’re
in South Africa!

42 | INTRAMUROS SEPTEMBER 2022