by
BrightRock
|
September 2025
Each year in September, we celebrate Heritage Day in South Africa. We honour the rich diversity, traditions, cultures of our roots, and cultural identities.
In celebration of our unique and beautiful nation, we asked some of our Bright Sparks to share a little bit of what heritage means to them. Here’s what they had to say:
Dibuseng Msomi
How do you celebrate Heritage Day?
I spent Heritage Day with my family. We had a braai, and there was singing and dancing. It was a very nice day, and I had a lot of fun.
What’s one fun fact about your culture or heritage that you think people should know about?
A fun fact is that large tasks like farming were often done by communal work parties called Matsema (this is a traditional communal labour practice of the Basotho people). I value the fact that we always remind each other to be respectful and loving, and that we teach the young ones the importance of our heritage and where we come from.
What do you enjoy most about being a member of Team BrightRock?
I feel very fortunate to be a member of Team BrightRock. It's a great learning space where we can, as individuals, learn about different cultures and people. The support we receive from one another is a blessing for all of us.
Nathanael Bowker
How do you celebrate Heritage Day?
I celebrate Heritage Day by spending time with family and friends, often enjoying a traditional braai. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on our diverse backgrounds, share stories, and appreciate the different cultures that make up our nation.
What do you enjoy most about being a member of Team BrightRock?
In many South African cultures, storytelling is a deeply rooted tradition – not just for entertainment, but as a way of preserving history, passing down wisdom, and teaching values. Elders often tell stories that blend folklore with real-life lessons, and it’s a beautiful way of keeping heritage alive.
What do you enjoy most about being a member of Team BrightRock?
What I enjoy most is the inclusive and supportive culture. There’s a genuine sense of collaboration, and everyone is encouraged to bring their whole self to work. It’s empowering to be part of a team that values innovation, growth, and people just as much as performance.
Lwazi Ndima
How do you celebrate Heritage Day?
I love spending the day with both friends and family and eating food that feels like home. There’s usually a braai involved because of course, this is Mzansi after all. It’s about honouring the cultures and traditions that shaped me. It’s also one of the few times in the year where I get to see and learn about other cultures around me.
What’s one fun fact about your culture or heritage that you think people should know about?
Well, I’m Xhosa, and the clicks in the language aren’t just a cute addition, they’re actually quite complex. There are three different types (Q, X and C) each with its own sound and tongue placement. I think that’s one of the reasons the Xhosa language is so rich and poetic even to non-Xhosa speakers.
What do you enjoy most about being a member of Team BrightRock?
I enjoy being a BrightRocker because of how we show up for each other, our clients, and the communities we serve. There’s a shared level of excellence which is amazing. I also love how BrightRock champions CSI projects like the one I was a part of at Sithembile Junior Secondary School in September, together with United Through Sport. It reminds me that our impact goes further than just spreadsheets, it’s about upliftment and genuinely helping people better navigate change in their lives.
Lilly Govender
How do you celebrate Heritage Day?
I love to be out and about, enjoying the bustle, watching people recognising and celebrating our progress as a resilient nation.
What’s one fun fact about your culture or heritage that you think people should know about?
Our famous iconic Indian dish that is Biryani – it is always a winner.
What do you enjoy most about being a member of Team BrightRock?
I love the diversity and how we embrace our heritage and respect, enjoy, and appreciate each other’s culture.
Temosho Kgatla
How do you celebrate Heritage Day?
As part of the Pedi or BaPedi culture, I celebrate Heritage Day in ways that I proudly showcase my rich cultural identity, which includes traditional music, attires, food, and customs. This is a way in which I preserve indigenous knowledge and express pride in my culture.
What’s one fun fact about your culture or heritage that you think people should know about?
A fun and fascinating fact about BaPedi culture is the unique initiation practices, particularly Koma, a traditional male initiation school. The Koma is more than initiation, it’s a deeply rooted rite of passage where boys are transformed into men – learning about the BaPedi cultural values, community responsibilities, respect for elders, our history and identity.
These initiation schools are often held in secluded rural areas and are shrouded in secrecy, with string spiritual and ancestral significance.
What do you enjoy most about being a member of Team BrightRock?
What I enjoy most about being a member of Team BrightRock is the rich diversity in culture, which creates a vibrant environment where different perspectives, traditions, and ideas come together – helping us grow, learn from one another, and collaborate more creatively.
Patricia Weir
How do you celebrate Heritage Day?
We do not have a hard and fast rule regarding celebrating events in our family but generally because Heritage Day falls in Spring, the weather is normally warmer, we would have a good old braai, in true South African style. Sometimes we have family and friends over to celebrate with. We are a proudly South African family, so it goes without saying that the South African flag will fly high, even though my husband is a Scotsman.
What’s one fun fact about your culture or heritage that you think people should know about?
Well, I am an English-speaking South African, so definitely feel a bit outnumbered sometimes. I really do prefer tea to coffee, and it should be served in a teacup and not a mug but that is just me. Generally, though, we are understated and enjoy the natural beauty of nature and of course, the good weather that we are blessed with in South Africa.
What do you enjoy most about being a member of Team BrightRock?
The diversity of the people is just wonderful. We range from young people, just out of school to people reaching retirement but we all work together for a common cause, that of BrightRock. There is a mutual respect, and great friendships are forged in BrightRock that will go well beyond our working careers. In my work area, we laugh every day. It’s hard to stay upset for too long.