There’s something magical about the familiar smell drifting through the air at this time of year. The days are warmer, the jackets are lighter, and across the country, South Africans are gathering around one of our oldest traditions: the braai.
It’s more than just cooking food on an open flame. (Gas does not classify as braaiing). The braai is where cultures meet, where stories are shared, and where laughter travels across fences. Whether it’s boerewors sizzling in a township yard, snoek on the fire along the West Coast, lamb chops in the Karoo, or inyama, pap and chakalaka dished up with pride, the braai reminds us of who we are: a people of many languages, colours, and tastes—but one big family when we gather around the fire.
Heritage Day on 24 September celebrates exactly that. It’s a reminder that our diversity is not a weakness but our greatest strength. With twelve official languages, countless traditions, and a kaleidoscope of cultures. From the bright beads of Zulu and Xhosa attire to the colourful Shweshwe fabrics of the Sotho and Tswana, from Afrikaner farm-style gatherings to Cape Malay spices drifting from bubbling pots—each has its place at the table.
What makes this day special is not the differences themselves, but the fact that they can all exist side by side—on one plate, around one fire, in one nation.
Of course, where there’s fire, there’s also risk. A spark can leap, an ember can catch, and accidents do happen. That’s where insurance steps quietly into the background. Protecting your home, your car parked out front, and even the business that supplies the meat and wood. Because while no policy can guarantee that your chops won’t burn, it can ensure that your joy around the fire remains untouched by life’s unexpected flare-ups.
For the remainder of this Heritage Month, let’s celebrate the blessing of being South African. Different languages, different tastes, one heartbeat. And as you flip that steak or turn that boerewors, take a moment to be grateful for the fire that unites us.
Because in the end, the real heritage we pass on isn’t just the recipes or the clothes—it’s the togetherness.
