On 1 February 2016 the Founder and Executive Director of ACCORD, Vasu Gounden, attended a Convention entitled: “Towards a Front for Nation-building, Social Cohesion and Reconciliation”, in response to an invitation from the South African Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa. The mandate of the Department of Arts and Culture is focused on nation building and nurturing social cohesion. Activities in this vein include community conversations and dialogues throughout the country to strengthen social cohesion. The Convention took stock of the gains that South Africa has made towards nation building and social cohesion and sought to chart a way forward by developing sectorial plans to support and protect nation building.
In 2014 Mr Gounden was appointed by the Minister to be an Advocate for Social Cohesion, to support efforts for South Africans to work together to build a proud and caring society. Mr Gounden was also appointed by the Executive Committee of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government to serve on a Special Committee on Social Cohesion and Reconciliation in the Province.
